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Olympus Mons

Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano and mountain in the solar system, towering over Mars at about 21.9 kilometers (13.6 miles) high—nearly three times the height of Mount Everest. Located on the western edge of the Tharsis volcanic plateau, Olympus Mons is a massive shield volcano with a diameter of roughly 600 kilometers (373 miles), comparable in size to the state of Arizona. Its summit caldera spans about 85 kilometers (53 miles) and consists of overlapping collapse craters formed by past eruptions. The volcano's immense size is attributed to Mars' lack of plate tectonics, which allowed lava to accumulate over millions of years without being dispersed. This slow, steady buildup created its broad, gently sloping profile. Olympus Mons is believed to have been volcanically active for a much longer period than Earth’s volcanoes, and some scientists speculate it may still be dormant rather than extinct.