Olympus Mons: The Tallest Mountain In Solar System 

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8 December 2024


Located on Mars, Olympus Mons stands as the tallest mountain in our Solar system, boasting an impressive height of approximately 21.9 km (17 miles) above the Martian surface

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Olympus Mons is located on Mars, near the planet's western hemisphere in the Tharsis volcanic region

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It stands approximately 21.9 kilometers (13.6 miles) tall, which is about 2.5 times taller than Mount Everest

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The base of Olympus Mons spans about 600 kilometers (370 miles) in diameter, roughly equivalent to the size of the state of Arizona

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Olympus Mons is a shield volcano, characterized by gentle slopes created by the eruption of low-viscosity lava

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The mountain's immense size is possible due to Mars' lower gravity (about 38% of Earth's), allowing structures to grow much larger than on Earth

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Its summit features a large caldera (collapsed volcanic crater) about 80 kilometres (50 miles) wide, formed by multiple eruptions

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Olympus Mons is estimated to be less than 200 million years old, meaning it is geologically young and may still be volcanically active

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The western slopes are much steeper than the eastern side, likely due to the planet's wind and erosion patterns

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The thin atmosphere on Mars means less erosion, allowing Olympus Mons to retain its enormous size and shape for millions of years

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