Olympus Mons on Mars is the tallest mountain and volcano in the Solar System, rising to about 22 km high and spanning roughly 600–700 km across its base.
Overview of Olympus Mons
Olympus Mons is a massive shield volcano located in the Tharsis region of Mars; its summit elevation is nearly 22 km above the surrounding plains and its gentle slopes make it appear like a vast plateau from close up.
Size and Scale
The volcano stands about 22 km high, nearly three times the height of Mount Everest, and spans more than 600 km across its base, giving it a footprint comparable to the size of a large country and a volume far greater than any terrestrial volcano.
How It Formed
Olympus Mons grew as a shield volcano from repeated, fluid basaltic lava flows over a long time; the lack of plate tectonics on Mars allowed eruptions to build the edifice in roughly the same location, producing its extraordinary height and breadth.
Scientific Significance
Studying Olympus Mons reveals information about Mars’s volcanic history, crustal stability, and past thermal evolution, and its immense size helps scientists understand why Martian volcanism produced much larger edifices than those on Earth.
Quick Related Facts
- Height: about 22 km
- Width: roughly 600–700 km across
- Type: shield volcano
- Significance: tallest known volcano/one of the tallest mountains in the Solar System