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Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano in the Solar System, located on Mars, standing approximately 22 kilometers high and 600 kilometers in diameter. Its relatively uncratered surface indicates it may be geologically young and potentially still dormant. The volcano's immense size is attributed to Mars' low gravity and lack of tectonic activity, contributing to our understanding of planetary geology.

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15 views1 page

Extended Scribd Space Note 5

Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano in the Solar System, located on Mars, standing approximately 22 kilometers high and 600 kilometers in diameter. Its relatively uncratered surface indicates it may be geologically young and potentially still dormant. The volcano's immense size is attributed to Mars' low gravity and lack of tectonic activity, contributing to our understanding of planetary geology.

Uploaded by

g.olewczynski
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Space Science Notes

Olympus Mons: The Tallest Volcano in the Solar System

Olympus Mons, a massive shield volcano on Mars, is the tallest planetary mountain in the Solar

System. Standing about 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) high, it is nearly three times the height of Mount

Everest. Olympus Mons is about 600 kilometers (373 miles) in diameter and has a caldera at the

summit spanning around 80 kilometers (50 miles). Its size and relatively uncratered surface suggest

that it is geologically young and may have been active in the not-too-distant past.

The low gravity and lack of tectonic plate activity on Mars allowed Olympus Mons to grow so large

without collapsing. Scientists believe the volcano could still be dormant, not extinct. It is part of the

Tharsis volcanic plateau, a region containing several other massive volcanoes. The scale of

Olympus Mons challenges our understanding of volcanic activity and planetary geology beyond

Earth.

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