Description:
Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano in the solar system, a massive shield volcano rising 22 km above the Martian surface with a base spanning 600 km.
Formed by prolonged volcanic activity without plate tectonics, allowing lava to accumulate in one location, its gentle slopes and complex caldera at the summit measure 80 km wide.
Located in the Tharsis volcanic region, it exemplifies Mars' geological history of hotspot volcanism, with layers of lava flows visible in cliffs and aureole deposits surrounding the base.
How I Got My Name:
Named after Mount Olympus from Greek mythology, the abode of the gods, due to its immense size noted by early astronomers like Giovanni Schiaparelli.
Interesting Fact:
So vast that an observer on its base couldn't see the summit due to Mars' curvature; recent studies suggest lava flows as young as 2 million years, hinting at potential future activity. Viking 1 orbiter captured its first detailed images in 1976.
Location: Centered at 18.65° N, 226° E.
