Arsia Mons Flank

Today's VIS image shows the western flank of Arsia Mons. The curved depressions are tectonic graben the encircle the lower flanks of the volcano. Arsia Mons is the southernmost of the Tharsis volcanoes. It is 270 miles (450km) in diameter, almost 12 miles (20km) high, and the summit caldera is 72 miles (120km) wide. For comparison, the tallest volcano on Earth is Mauna Kea. From its base on the sea floor, Mauna Kea measures only 10.2 km high (6.3 mi). A large volcanic crater known as a caldera is located at the summit of all of the Tharsis volcanoes. These calderas are produced by massive volcanic explosions and collapse. The Arsia Mons summit caldera is larger than many volcanoes on Earth.