The tallest mountain in our solar system is Olympus Mons, located on the planet Mars. Olympus Mons is a massive shield volcano that stands about 21 to 26 kilometers (approximately 13 to 16 miles) high, making it roughly two to three times taller than Mount Everest on Earth
. Key facts about Olympus Mons:
- Height: Around 21.9 to 26 km (72,000 feet) above the Martian surface
- Diameter: Approximately 370 to 600 kilometers (230 to 374 miles), about the size of the state of Arizona or the country of France
- Structure: It has gentle slopes averaging 2 to 5 degrees and is a shield volcano formed by repeated lava flows
- Unique features: The summit contains six nested calderas (collapsed craters) and is surrounded by cliffs up to 8 km tall
- Formation: Olympus Mons grew so large because Mars lacks tectonic plate movement, allowing lava to accumulate over a stationary hotspot for millions of years
While the asteroid Vesta has a mountain (the central peak of the Rheasilvia crater) that rivals Olympus Mons in height, Olympus Mons is generally considered the tallest mountain discovered in the solar system
. In summary, Olympus Mons on Mars is the tallest mountain in our solar system, distinguished by its enormous height, vast area, and volcanic origin
