Olympus Mons Flank

Today's VIS image is located on the southeastern flank of Olympus Mons. Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the solar system, reaching heights over 25 km (16 miles) tall from base to summit, with the base covering an area as large as the state of Arizona. For comparison, Mauna Loa is 9 km (5.5 miles) tall measured from its base on the sea floor. The large escarpment at the bottom of the image is called Olympus Rupes. The escarpment is a cliff where there is a large elevation change over a short distance. The elevation change from the lower volcanic plains to the volcano flank is up to 8km (5 miles), almost the height of Mount Everest.