Planet on which Olympus Mons, largest volcano in the solar system, is located

Planet on which Olympus Mons, largest volcano in the solar system, is located

• A. Venus
• B. Mars
• C. Jupiter
• D. Mercury

Answer: (B)

Olympus Mons is located on Mars. The giant shield volcano forms because Mars has a fixed crust without plate tectonics, so a single hotspot can erupt repeatedly in the same spot and build a tall, broad volcano over time. Mars’ lower gravity also lets lava pile up higher before the slopes fail, contributing to the enormous height and wide base of Olympus Mons in the Tharsis region. Other planets mentioned don’t host this feature: Venus has volcanism, Mercury is smaller with a different volcanic history, and Jupiter is a gas giant without a solid surface volcano like Olympus Mons.

Olympus Mons is located on Mars. The giant shield volcano forms because Mars has a fixed crust without plate tectonics, so a single hotspot can erupt repeatedly in the same spot and build a tall, broad volcano over time. Mars’ lower gravity also lets lava pile up higher before the slopes fail, contributing to the enormous height and wide base of Olympus Mons in the Tharsis region. Other planets mentioned don’t host this feature: Venus has volcanism, Mercury is smaller with a different volcanic history, and Jupiter is a gas giant without a solid surface volcano like Olympus Mons.