
Olympus Mons: Solar System’s giant shield volcano that hides its summit in width
Olympus Mons on Mars rises about 22 km above the plains and spans roughly 600 km, making it the solar system’s tallest volcano. Its vast width means the summit is often invisible from the slopes, a result of its gentle, shield‑volcano profile built by countless lava flows; its rim is steep and a sprawling 80‑km caldera sits at the top, a consequence of Mars’s stationary crust and lower gravity.








