Rising from the Martian plains, Olympus Mons stands as a testomony to the facility of volcanic forces. This behemoth is not simply the biggest volcano on Mars; it is the biggest volcano in the complete photo voltaic system, dwarfing even the mighty Mauna Loa on Earth. Its colossal kind, stretching over 22 miles (35 kilometers) excessive and 370 miles (600 kilometers) broad, would simply blanket the complete state of Arizona.

But what makes Olympus Mons so particular? Why does Mars play host to such a monstrous mountain, whereas Earth’s volcanoes look like mere foothills compared? The reply lies within the distinctive geological make-up of the Red Planet.

Let us study extra concerning the greatest volcano in our photo voltaic system.

Olympus Mons: Biggest Volcano in Solar System

As per the official web site of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, Olympus Mons is a protect volcano 624 km (374 mi) in diameter (roughly the identical dimension because the state of Arizona), 25 km (16 mi) excessive, and is rimmed by a 6 km (4 mi) excessive scarp.

A caldera 80 km (50 mi) broad is situated on the summit of Olympus Mons. To examine, the biggest volcano on Earth is Mauna Loa which can also be a protect volcano 10 km (6.3 mi) excessive and 120 km (75 mi) throughout.

The quantity of Olympus Mons is about 100 occasions bigger than that of Mauna Loa. In truth, the complete chain of Hawaiian islands (from Kauai to Hawaii) would match inside Olympus Mons! Compared with Mount Everest, Olympus Mons is sort of thrice the peak of Everest’s 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles). Imagine stacking two and a half Everests on high of one another, that is roughly the elevation of Olympus Mons!

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Why is Olympus Mons the largest volcano?

Image: NASA

Olympus Mons reigns supreme because the photo voltaic system’s greatest volcano as a result of following mechanisms:

Stationary tectonic plates: Unlike Earth’s continually shifting plates, Mars’s plates are largely mounted. This permits a “hot spot” of molten rock below the crust to remain put, spewing lava in the identical place for hundreds of thousands of years. Imagine a unending volcanic buffet, piling layer upon layer of lava on high of itself!

Thick and secure crust: Mars boasts a thicker and extra secure crust than Earth. This sturdy basis can deal with the immense weight of Olympus Mons with out buckling or collapsing, offering a stable platform for its development. Think of it as a super-strong pancake base on your ever-growing stack of volcanic pancakes.

Long eruptions: With no tectonic plates shifting the new spot away, Olympus Mons enjoys prolonged intervals of eruption. Each eruption provides one other layer to the mountain, slowly however absolutely pushing it in the direction of its colossal top. It’s like a slow-motion volcanic film, the place the climax retains constructing for hundreds of thousands of years.

Low gravity: Mars’s gravity is nearly 38% of Earth’s. This means the lava flows additional and spreads out wider on the Martian floor, contributing to the volcano’s huge base.

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