Olympus Mons: The Colossal Giant That Makes Everest Look Small

Olympus Mons rises 22 km above the Martian surface—2.5 times higher than Mount Everest and wide enough to cover entire countries. A giant among giants, it is the largest volcano in the solar system.

When we think of the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest instantly comes to mind. Towering at 8.8 km (8,850 m) above sea level, it has long been the symbol of Earth’s ultimate climbing challenge.

But if you step onto Mars, Everest suddenly looks like a mere hill. That’s because Mars is home to Olympus Mons—the largest volcano and mountain in the entire solar system. With its staggering scale, Olympus Mons dwarfs every peak on Earth and stands as a monument to the unique forces that shaped Mars.

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Taller Than Anything on Earth

• Mount Everest height: ~8.8 km
• Olympus Mons height: ~22 km

That makes Olympus Mons nearly 2.5 times taller than Everest. Climbing its summit would mean ascending 22,000 meters—a feat so extreme that Everest seems modest in comparison.

But the story doesn’t end with height. Olympus Mons also dominates in size and volume.

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A Mountain the Size of a Country

• Olympus Mons spans 600 km in diameter—about the size of Arizona in the U.S.
• That’s nearly twice the area of Bangladesh.
• Its caldera (crater at the summit) alone is about 80 km wide, big enough to fit Mount Everest inside.

Standing at its base, you wouldn’t even see the summit. The mountain’s gentle slope—just 5 degrees on average—means the peak disappears beyond the horizon. To the human eye, it would feel like walking across a flat plain, while actually climbing the tallest mountain in the solar system.

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Why Is Olympus Mons So Big?

Olympus Mons owes its colossal size to two major Martian conditions:

1. Low Gravity – Mars’ gravity is only 37.5% of Earth’s, allowing structures to grow far larger without collapsing under their own weight.
2. No Plate Tectonics – Unlike Earth, Mars doesn’t have shifting tectonic plates. On Earth, volcanic “hotspots” move, creating chains of volcanoes like Hawaii. On Mars, the hotspot remained in one place for millions of years, allowing lava to pile up in a single spot, forming an enormous shield volcano.

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An Ancient, Yet Possibly Active Giant

• Olympus Mons is around 3.6 billion years old.
• Its last eruption is believed to have occurred 2 to 25 million years ago—which, in cosmic terms, is relatively recent.
• Scientists think it may still be capable of erupting in the future.

Surrounding its base is a cliff-like escarpment up to 8 km high, separating the volcano from the Martian plains. This natural “wall” adds to its imposing structure.

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Higher Than Martian Dust Storms

Mars is notorious for its planet-wide dust storms, sometimes so intense they block sunlight for weeks. Yet Olympus Mons towers so high that its peak often rises above the storm clouds, remaining visible even when the planet is shrouded in dust. It’s like a cosmic lighthouse standing tall in a sea of storms.

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A Mythical Name for a Mythic Mountain

The name Olympus Mons comes from Greek mythology, after Mount Olympus, home of the gods. And fittingly so—this Martian giant is not just a mountain, but a planetary monument that feels almost divine in scale.

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Not the Tallest, But the Largest

Interestingly, Olympus Mons is not technically the tallest mountain in the solar system if you measure by base-to-peak height. That record belongs to Rheasilvia, a peak on the asteroid Vesta, which rises slightly higher.

But in terms of volume and surface area, Olympus Mons remains unmatched. It is, without question, the largest volcano in the solar system.

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Why Olympus Mons Fascinates Scientists

Olympus Mons is more than just a geological wonder. It provides insights into:

• Planetary geology – how different environments shape landscapes.
• Volcanic activity – why Mars’ volcanoes are so different from Earth’s.
• Possibility of life – volcanic heat sources could have once created habitable conditions beneath the Martian surface.

In many ways, Olympus Mons is a reminder that while Earth’s natural wonders inspire awe, the universe holds marvels that redefine our very sense of scale.

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