What is the highest mountain in the solar system?

Answer: Olympus Mons.
Explanation: Olympus Mons is a massive shield volcano on the planet Mars. It is the highest mountain in the solar system, with a height of about 27 km (17 mi). Olympus Mons is located in the Tharsis region of Mars and is believed to have formed from a hotspot in the planet's mantle.

Olympus Mons: The Tallest Mountain in the Solar System

When one thinks about the tallest mountain, Mount Everest usually comes to mind. However, if we extend our horizon beyond Earth, the title of the highest mountain in the solar system goes to Olympus Mons, a shield volcano located on Mars.

Olympus Mons: A Martian Giant

Olympus Mons, named after the home of the Greek gods, is a gigantic shield volcano, similar to volcanoes found in the Hawaiian Islands on Earth. With an altitude of 13.6 miles (22 kilometers), it is nearly three times the height of Mount Everest, which stands at 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometers) high. Olympus Mons is not only tall, but it's also wide, stretching approximately 370 miles (600 kilometers) in diameter, roughly equivalent to the size of the state of Arizona.

The Formation of Olympus Mons

Olympus Mons was formed by volcanic activity that happened over millions of years. The tectonic activity on Mars is quite different from that on Earth. While the Earth's crust is split into tectonic plates that move and sometimes cause magma to reach the surface, Mars does not have tectonic plates. As a result, the lava that forms Olympus Mons flowed out from the same place in the planet's crust over a prolonged period, leading to the formation of this large, tall volcano.

Exploration and Study of Olympus Mons

Olympus Mons has been the subject of study for scientists ever since it was discovered during the Mariner missions in the 1970s. Future missions to Mars may provide more detailed observations and perhaps even samples from this extraterrestrial mountain, providing invaluable insights into the geological history of Mars.

While Earth's Mount Everest might hold the record within our home planet, the impressive Olympus Mons on Mars takes the crown as the highest mountain in our solar system. Its discovery and ongoing study continue to add fascinating chapters to our understanding of Mars and our broader solar system.