Our solar system harbors some truly astounding mountains that far surpass the largest terrestrial peaks. Below is a top 10 of these colossal natural wonders.
10. Euboea Montes
Located on Io, one of Jupiter’s four large moons, Euboea Montes stretches to a height of 10 kilometers.
9. Oberon Peak
On Oberon, one of the moons of Uranus, this unnamed peak reaches up to 11 kilometers. Oberon is dotted with craters and deep canyons.
8. Ionian Mon
Back on Io, this mountain rises 12.7 kilometers. The continuous volcanic activity on Io, driven by gravitational interactions with Jupiter, makes this moon one of the most geologically active objects in our solar system.
7. Pavonis Mons
On Mars, we find Pavonis Mons, a volcano that is 14 kilometers high. This mountain is part of the Tharsis volcano dome, a gigantic volcanic plateau that houses some of the highest volcanoes in the solar system.
6. Elysium Mons
Also on Mars, slightly higher than Pavonis Mons, stands Elysium Mons at a height of 14.1 kilometers. This volcano is located in the Elysium Planitia, an extensive volcanic area that counterbalances the Tharsis region.
5. Arsia Mons
Another Martian mountain, Arsia Mons, stands 17.7 kilometers above the Martian surface. It is the southernmost of the three shield volcanoes that make up the Tharsis Montes.
4. Boösaule Mons
Io offers Boösaule Mons, with an estimated height between 17.2 and 17.8 kilometers. This mountain is yet another testament to the fierce geological activity taking place on this fascinating moon.
3. Ascraeus Mons
Back on Mars, this time with a height of 18 kilometers, we find Ascraeus Mons. This volcano is one of the three large Martian volcanoes that make up the Tharsis Montes.
2. Rheasilvia Peak
Located on the asteroid Vesta, the central peak of the Rheasilvia crater reaches an impressive height of 20 to 25 kilometers. This mountain is particularly remarkable for its location on an asteroid, a small celestial body compared to planets and moons. Rheasilvia Peak is located in a gigantic impact crater that covers almost the entire southern pole of Vesta, bearing witness to the violent collisions that have contributed to the formation and evolution of the solar system.
1. Olympus Mons
The undisputed king of mountains, located on Mars, is Olympus Mons, with a breathtaking height of 21 kilometers. This makes it not only the highest mountain in the solar system but also the largest volcano.
Olympus Mons is so large that its slopes are relatively gentle, making its enormous size difficult to perceive from the surface. The caldera at the top has a diameter of about 60 kilometers and was formed by multiple eruptions over the millennia.
