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Olympus Mons on Mars is the largest known volcano in the solar system.
Earth has dramatic volcanic peaks, but they are dwarfed by Olympus Mons. This enormous shield volcano rises above the surrounding Martian landscape and spans a vast region, demonstrating that the geology of other planets can operate on an unfamiliar scale.
A volcano built over time
Olympus Mons is a shield volcano, formed through successive flows of relatively fluid lava that spread outward and built broad slopes. NASA identifies it as the largest volcano in our solar system. Its size is so great that comparisons with individual mountains on Earth can be misleading: the volcanic edifice occupies an immense footprint as well as reaching extraordinary height.
Why Mars allowed a giant to form
Researchers connect the great size of Martian volcanoes with the planet's geological history, gravity and the absence of Earth-style moving tectonic plates. On Earth, the movement of a plate over a hot region can distribute volcanic activity across a chain of volcanoes. Mars has preserved massive volcanic regions that accumulated material over long periods.
What it tells scientists
Olympus Mons is a reminder that mountains and volcanoes record the conditions of the worlds where they formed. Studying its shape, lava flows and neighbouring terrain helps researchers piece together the changing interior and surface history of Mars.
Sources and further reading
Editorial note: This article explains documented research and links to the primary institutions used to verify its central claims.