The largest mountain in the solar system. The highest mountain peak on Mars. Mount Askrian, Mars

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Despite the fact that Mars is almost half the size of Earth, the red planet is the absolute record holder in our solar system. The fact is that on the surface of Mars there is dormant volcano Olympus, which is the highest mountain in our solar system. Before spacecraft flights showed that Olim was a mountain, this object was called Nix Olympica ("Snows of Olympus") due to its higher albedo.

The height of Olympus is 27 km to its base and 25 km to the average surface level of Mars. This is several times higher than the highest mountains on Earth. Olympus stretches 540 km wide and has steep slopes along the edges up to 7 km high. The reasons for the formation of these giant cliffs have not yet found a convincing explanation.

The length of the volcanic caldera of Olympus is 85 km, width - 60 km. The depth of the caldera reaches 3 km due to the presence of six volcanic craters. For comparison, at the largest volcano on Earth, Mauna Loa, Hawaiian Islands The diameter of the crater is 6.5 km.

The atmospheric pressure at the top of Olympus is only 2% of the pressure characteristic of the average level of the Martian surface (for comparison, the pressure at the top of Everest is 25% of that at sea level).

Olympus occupies so much large area, that it cannot be completely seen from the surface of the planet (the distance required to view the volcano is so great that it will be hidden due to the curvature of the surface). Therefore, the full profile of Olympus can only be seen from the air or orbit. Similarly, if you stand at the highest point of a volcano, then its slope

Although conquering Everest is still the ultimate dream for many, we are ready to offer something cooler. Of course, it is unlikely that you will be able to climb to the top of the mountain of this or that planet, but no one can stop you from making grandiose plans.

Mountain on Oberon

NASA

Oberon is one of the main moons of Uranus, the ninth largest in the solar system. There is an incredible peak 11 kilometers high here. He was spotted in photographs taken by Voyager. Apparently, even if someone tried to conquer this peak, he would have a hard time - the entire surface of Oberon is covered with steep and dangerous canyons.

Arcia, Mars

In fact, Arcia is not really a mountain. It is a volcano with a crater whose diameter ranges from 108 to 138 kilometers. It was here that glaciers were recently discovered, and in addition, seven entrances to yet unexplored caves.

Euboea, Io

The mountain, more like a football field, is truly huge. The approximate dimensions of Euboea are 175 by 240 kilometers. Its height ranges from 10.3 to 13.4 kilometers, and a thick and rugged ridge runs across its entire area.

Elysium, Mars

The extinct volcano is located in the Elysium region and its height is 12.6 kilometers. The majesty of Elysium is difficult to overestimate - the mountain rises above the lava plains of Mars. She even has an “earthly sister” - the Emi-Koussi hill in Chad is considered an analogue of Elysia.

East Ridge, Io

The second highest mountain on Io is very beautiful. Its shape resembles a double curved comb. Despite the fact that Jupiter’s satellite is very distant from the Earth, the Eastern Ridge has a canonical shape that is atypical for an alien elevation. The height of the mountain is 12.7 kilometers.

Mount Askrian, Mars

The extinct volcano is considered one of the highest elevations on Mars - 14.9 kilometers. When it opened in 1971, it was simply called - Northern point. This is because accumulations of dust prevented the surface of the red planet from being seen. When the dust storm on Mars stopped, researchers were able to see four huge volcanoes. One of them was named Askrian Mountain.

Boosavla, Io

Despite the fact that volcanic eruptions and lava movement constantly occur on the surface of Io, the structure of Mount Boosavla is completely tectonic. It is interesting that here the elevations stand a little apart, alone. For example, on Earth, next to such a peak there would certainly be a chain of other, lower mountains.

Equatorial Ridge, Iapetus

Iapetus is the third largest moon of Saturn. It is here that the equatorial ridge, incredible in its scale, is located. Its length is 1,300 kilometers, width - 20 kilometers. It is still unknown how exactly this chain of mountains was formed. It is especially difficult to explain why the ridge follows the equator almost perfectly. However, we know exactly the height of the high peak— it is 20 kilometers.

Olympus, Mars

The huge volcano, 22 kilometers high, is probably the most famous alien mountain. It is three times higher than Everest, and Olympus was noticed back in the 19th century.

Rheasilvia Peak, Vesta

Rheasilvia is a crater on the asteroid Vesta, the largest in the Solar System. It was discovered in 1997 using the Hubble telescope. It was formed by an asteroid impact. The force of the collision was so great that about 1% of Vesta's total volume was ejected into outer space. It is believed that it was after this that class V asteroids arose. It is here that the highest peak of the Solar system is located - its height is 22 kilometers.

Mount Olympus has been known to many since childhood; it reminds of the greatness of the gods Ancient Greece such as Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hephaestus, Aphrodite. In ancient myths, this peak is nothing more than the abode of immortal deities revered by the Greeks. And it is no coincidence that the inhabitants of Ancient Greece gave the mountain such a sacred status; the height of Olympus also played a role here. And, undoubtedly, its beauty and majestic inaccessibility.

Height of Olympus

Mount Olympus in ancient times was completely inaccessible to people, for this reason the Greeks could assume that only gods could live on its top. The question arises: what is the height of Olympus if she was given such divine status? Answer: it reaches almost 3 kilometers. It would seem not so much.

Although the height of Olympus is small compared to other mountain ranges on Earth - 2918 meters, in Greece it is the highest point. Its top is indeed practically inaccessible, since its slopes are sheer cliffs. All mountain range consists of several snow-white peaks: Mytikas (the highest of them), Skolio (2912 meters), Stefani (Throne of Zeus), Skala, Agios Antonios, Profitis Ilias.

Origin of the mountain

This massif is not part of the mountain systems of the peninsula and currently stands apart. Olympus was formed over a million years and belongs to the In ancient times, it belonged to the mountain systems of the Balkan Peninsula, and its separation occurred as a result of tectonic processes and glacial activity.

Olympus on Mars

Another mountain with the same name is located on Mars and is recognized the highest mountain our solar system. There, the height of Olympus reaches 27 kilometers. It is not even really a mountain, but a volcano, clearly visible from space. For comparison, the height of Mount Olympus in Greece is only 2,918 kilometers.

Mythology

The height of Olympus in Greece is high enough that, having climbed it, you will be above the cloud line. According to legends, everything above is engulfed in heavenly fire and not a single mere mortal can be there. It was on Olympus that the great Zeus the Thunderer sat on his throne. He is the most important of the pantheon of ancient Greek gods. With him was his jealous wife Hera, the goddess of love and marriage. Her jealousy was quite justified, since the Thunderer sometimes kidnapped mortal women who had children from him.

The mortal offspring of Zeus tended to become famous heroes in Ancient Greece, in addition, almost all the gods, except the brothers Hades and Poseidon, were born from Zeus and other goddesses. But only immortal gods could live on Olympus itself; entry there was closed to people. But there were exceptions: Hercules, despite the fact that he was born from a mortal woman, after all his labors ascended to heaven, reconciled with Hera, and also joined the gods on Olympus. In total, 12 Olympians lived there: Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Hephaestus, Athena, Ares, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Hermes. Hades ruled in the underground kingdom of the dead, and Poseidon ruled the seas and oceans.

Neighborhoods of Olympus

The city of Dion (Zeus in Greek), located near Mount Olympus, is now archaeological site. According to legend, the sons of Zeus Macedon and Magnet built a sanctuary for their father there and settled there. Later, the city of Dion appeared, founded by the king of Macedonia Archelaus. Temples, theaters and stadiums decorated with sculptures were built here, and roads were paved with paving stones. The city soon became a cultural and religious center comparable to Delphi. It’s sad, but later, the city was plundered and destroyed by the Romans, and then by the Turks. Now this ancient city open to the public, there are attractions such as the temple of Demeter (goddess of earth and fertility), a bust of Zeus next to an eagle (the place where Alexander the Great announced a campaign against the Persians), a sanctuary of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis, Roman baths, where ancient mosaics have been preserved .

The city of Litochoro, located at an altitude of 300 meters, unlike Dion, is very inhabited. The tourist road to Mount Olympus passes through it.

First ascent to Olympus

Man first saw the world from the heights of Mount Olympus only in 1913, despite the fact that the mountain had been known for a long time. Since then, a large number of people have climbed there, and the mountain is still popular today.

Therefore, a safe ascent to Olympus was specially developed for everyone. But most of The route is taken on foot, as the terrain is mountainous and difficult to pass.

Tourism

Although the height of Olympus is not so great, this mountain still attracts climbers, rock climbers and just tourists. Some are interested in steep slopes, others - the mystery and mystery of ancient myths, and others - the unique nature of these places.

Now the Olympus mountain range is part of the same name national park, operating since 1938, as it has many endemic plant and animal species. For tourists, conquering the heights of Olympus begins in small town Litochoro (300 meters above sea level). Then you need to reach the first settlement Prionia (possible by car), where tourists can spend the night in the monastery of St. Dionysius.

Then they go on foot to shelter A, where there is a tent city and a hotel. This place where tourists stop for the night is already at an altitude of more than 2000 meters. Then the path gradually leaves the forest area, and you can see alpine meadows. First they conquer the most accessible peak - Skala, and only then reach Skolio and Mytikas. Experienced tourists advise dividing this entire journey into two days; in one it is difficult to manage to climb to Olympus and descend. In addition, in the evenings you can watch beautiful sunsets here.

This is a view of the mountain from space. But where is this mountain? And on Mars... and this is the highest mountain in the solar system!

Olympus (lat. Olympus Mons) is an extinct volcano on Mars, the highest mountain in the Solar System. Before the spacecraft flights (which showed that Olympus is a mountain), this place was known to astronomers as Nix Olympica (“Snows of Olympus” - due to its higher albedo).

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The length of the volcanic caldera of Olympus is 85 km, width - 60 km. The depth of the caldera reaches 3 km due to the presence of six volcanic craters. For comparison, the largest volcano on Earth, Mauna Loa in the Hawaiian Islands, has a crater diameter of 6.5 km.

Olympus occupies such a large area that it cannot be completely seen from the surface of the planet (the distance required to view the volcano is so great that it will be hidden due to the curvature of the surface). Therefore, the full profile of Olympus can only be seen from the air or orbit. Likewise, if you stand at the highest point of a volcano, its slope will go beyond the horizon.

Olympus is an extinct volcano, formed due to lava flows that erupted from the depths and solidified. Since the width of the volcano is more than an order of magnitude greater than its height, eruptions occurred over a long period of time.

Analysis of images from the Mars Express spacecraft showed that the freshest lava on the slopes of Olympus is probably only 2 million years old, that is, quite recently by geological standards. Thus, it cannot be ruled out that the volcano will become active again.

The gigantic size of Olympus suggests that Mars probably does not have tectonic plates like Earth. Since there is no plate movement, the volcano can exist for a very long time.

Olympus is located in the region of Tharsis (or Tharsis), where a number of other volcanoes are located, including Arsia, Pavonis (or Mount Pavonis) and Askreus (or Mount Askrian), which are also enormous in size, although smaller than Olympus. These three volcanoes are on the Tharsis dome (or plateau), and Olympus is located inside the Tharsis Trench (2 km deep).

The area surrounding the volcano is covered in many places by a network of small ridges and mountains. This mountain system called the Halo of Olympus. The halo extends up to 1000 km from the summit in the form of huge “petals”. The origin of the Halo is one of the Martian mysteries. One of the hypotheses connects the Halo with the destruction of the slopes of Olympus, the other - with hypothetical glacial activity, according to another hypothesis - these are the remains of ancient lava flows that were subjected to destruction and erosion.

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In some photographs of areas of the Halo taken from high resolution, you can see many parallel stripes - yardangs. Probably their direction reflects the predominant direction of the winds blowing in this area. Yardangs usually form on surfaces that are easily eroded, such as by the presence of volcanic ash.

Olympus Mons on Mars, considered both the tallest rock formation and the most big volcano in the solar system, has become the object of close attention of astrophysicists. New research has shown that underneath it may lie deposits of liquid water, the temperature of which is maintained by volcanic activity.
Mount Olympus was first discovered in the 19th century. several astronomers at once, but only in 1972 did the Mariner 9 spacecraft transmit photographs of the volcano to Earth.

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The height of Olympus is 27 km and extends far beyond the planetary atmosphere, which is due to the absence of tectonic processes on Mars. Olympus and the other mountains of the Tharsis region rise above the dust storm zone and are clearly visible.

“Currently, the extinct Olympus Mons volcano is the most promising place to search for living organisms,” says study leader Patrick McGowan of the Houston Lunar and Planetary Institute. “Presumably, there is enough heat and moisture there, and the thickness of the rocks serves as excellent protection from climatic changes on the surface of Mars.”

Olympus Volcano last erupted about 2 million years ago. Judging by the shape of the mountain, the diameter of the base of which is an order of magnitude greater than the height, Olympus was characterized by long-term eruptions, during which low-density magma slowly flows down the slopes.

One of the features of Olympus is its asymmetry (from the northeast, the slopes of the mountain have a greater angle of steepness than from the opposite side in the southwest). Scientists for a long time could not find an explanation for this form - after all, if there are no tectonic plates, then nothing else simply can affect the volcano in this way.

The theory of the existence of water under the mountain provides a reliable explanation for such unevenness. If we assume that there is a different proportion of clay in the soil on opposite sides of the mountain, then the coefficient of adhesion of the lava to the surface will be different. Clay is an excellent reservoir for water, and its presence on the red planet was proven by the Mars Express spacecraft.

Similar volcanoes standing on a clay foundation can be observed on Earth. These include the shield volcanoes that form the Hawaiian Islands, including the largest mountain formation on the planet - the Muana Kea volcano, more than 10 thousand meters high (4,205 meters above the sea surface and more than 6 thousand meters under water) .

The conditions in the depths of Olympus are similar to those in which life on Earth supposedly originated - it is warm, dark and humid. “Many primitive life forms on our planet are very warm,” says geochemist Jennifer Blank. “They live deep underground and don’t need light at all.”

Other studies of Mars have also provided much indirect evidence for the existence of life on the red planet. So, in January, methane emissions were recorded from under the surface of Mars, and this indicates the presence of microbiological activity. The search for irrefutable facts continues.

The equatorial radius of the planet is 3394 km, the polar radius is 3376.4 km. The surface level in the southern hemisphere is on average 3-4 km higher than in the northern. Areas of the surface of Mars covered with craters are similar to the lunar continent. If you mentally divide the planet in half by a large circle inclined 35° to the equator, then there is a noticeable difference in the nature of the surface between the two halves of Mars.

The southern part has a mostly ancient surface, heavily cratered. The main impact basins are located in this hemisphere - the Hellas, Argyre and Isis plains. In the north, a younger, less cratered surface dominates. A significant part of the surface of Mars consists of lighter areas (“continents”) that have a reddish-orange color; 25% of the surface is darker “seas” of gray-green color, the level of which is lower than that of the “continents”.

The elevation differences are quite significant and amount to approximately 14-16 km in the equatorial region, but there are also peaks that rise much higher. The most high areas- large volcanic domes of the Tharsis Mountains and the Elysian Plains. Both areas are dominated by several huge extinct volcanoes, the largest of which are Arsia (27 km) and Olympus (26 km) in the elevated Tarais region in the northern hemisphere. These are the highest volcanoes in the solar system - shield volcanoes. By comparison, the shield volcanoes of the Hawaiian Islands on Earth rise only 9 km above the seafloor. Shield volcanoes grow in height gradually, as a result of repeated eruptions from the same vent. Although these volcanoes are apparently no longer active, they likely formed earlier and were active much longer than any volcanoes on Earth. At the same time, hot volcanic spots on Earth changed their location over time due to the gradual movement of continental plates, so that there was not enough time to “build” a very high volcano in each individual case. In addition, low gravity allows erupted material to form much taller structures on Mars that do not collapse under their own weight.

Observations of Mars from satellites reveal clear traces of volcanism and tectonic activity - faults, gorges with branching canyons, some of them hundreds of kilometers long, tens of them wide and several kilometers deep. These volcanic areas are located at the eastern and western ends of a huge canyon system, the Valles Marineris, which extends 5000 km along the equatorial region and, with a width of up to 120 km, has an average depth of 4-5 km. It is believed to have arisen as a result of a fault associated with the thrust of the Tharsis dome. Impact craters on Mars are shallower than those on the Moon and Mercury, but deeper than those on Venus. However, volcanic craters reach enormous sizes. The largest of them - Arsia, Acreus, Pavonis and Olympus - reach 500-600 km at the base. The diameter of the crater at Arsia is 100, and at Olympus - 60 km (for comparison, the greatest on Earth Mauna Loa volcano on the Hawaiian Islands the crater diameter is 6.5 km). The researchers came to the conclusion that the volcanoes were active relatively recently, namely several hundred million years ago.

There is evidence (preserved stream beds are long branching systems of valleys hundreds of kilometers long, very similar to the dried up beds of terrestrial rivers, and the elevation changes correspond to the direction of the currents) that liquid water once existed on the surface of Mars. It seems that these channels, coming from the Valles Marineris, were created during some kind of flash flood. In addition, in heavily cratered areas, winding traces of dried up rivers with many tributaries were found. Some relief features clearly resemble areas smoothed by glaciers. Judging by the good preservation of these forms, which did not have time to either collapse or be covered by subsequent layers, they are of relatively recent origin (within the last billion years). Where is the Martian water now? There is every reason to believe that there is a lot of water on Mars. It has been suggested that water still exists in the form of permafrost. At very low temperatures on the surface of Mars (on average about 220 K in the middle latitudes and only 150 K in the polar regions), a thick crust of ice quickly forms on any open surface of water, which, moreover, through a short time covered with dust and sand. In summer, the temperature at the equator is slightly above 0 o C, and on most of the surface the average is 23 o C. It is possible that, due to the low thermal conductivity of ice, liquid water may remain in places under its thickness and, in particular, subglacial water flows continue to deepen the beds of some rivers.

Well, now let's look at the panoramas of Mars.

Mount Olympus(Olympus Mons) - The highest peak on Mars and the largest volcano in the Solar System. It rises 27 km above the reference level (determined from atmospheric pressure measurements). This one is gigantic shield volcano, about 700 km across, is similar to volcanoes on Earth, but its volume is at least fifty times that of the closest terrestrial equivalent. The caldera has a diameter of about 90 km, with the mountain surrounded by an escarpment at least 4 km high. Older volcanic rocks, smoothed and eroded by wind, surround the main peak, forming the areal area. Mount Olympus is located in the northwestern part of the Tharsis Mountains and was previously called the "Olympic Snows" because the clouds that constantly swirled over this area looked like a bright spot to earthly observers.

plateau of the sun(Solis Planum) - An ancient volcanic plain on Mars, lying south of Valles Marineris. When viewed visually, a changing dark spot ("lake") is visible within this area, giving the entire structure the popular name "Martian Eye".

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Amazon plain(Amazonis Planitia) - A faintly colored plain in the northern equatorial region of Mars. Quite young, the rocks are 10-100 million years old. Some of these rocks are solidified volcanic lava. There are no volcanoes as such in the form of mountains with craters in the center, and lava poured out from cracks in the Martian crust. What is particularly interesting is that traces of extensive lava spills were found, which occurred repeatedly, and the lava flowed through the same system of channels as water (or ice). Based on studies of these multilayer structures formed as a result of repeated eruptions, we can conclude that it is quite possible that volcanic processes are taking place on Mars now, and relatively soon (in a few tens of millions of years) lava may flow across the surface of Mars again.

Land of Arabia - after measurements carried out by Mars Global Surveyor", it became known that it is located a kilometer below the surrounding plateaus. Scientists believe that this indicates that the region was subject to erosion. Erosion could be caused by various reasons: volcanic activity, glaciers, wind. However, according to scientists, the enormous size of the area exposed to it indicate that erosion on Arabia Earth was caused by flowing water. Confirmation of this may be obtained in three years. It is very likely that Arabia Earth will be one of the points where the Mars apparatus will land in 2004. Rover".

Argir plain(Argyre Planitia) - A circular impact basin (900 km in diameter) located in the southern hemisphere of Mars.

Arcadia plain(Arcadia Planitia) - A plain in the northern hemisphere of Mars.

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Utopia plain(Utopia Planitia) - A vast plain with a small number of craters in the northern hemisphere of Mars. Landing site of the Viking 2 AMS. Panoramic images sent back to Earth by the Viking lander showed the surface strewn with many boulders made of textured rock.

plain of Chrys(Chryse Planitia) - A circular plateau, almost certainly an impact basin, in the northern equatorial region of Mars. Landing site of the Viking 1 probe.

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Elysium Plain(Elysium Planitia) - A large volcanic plain more than 5000 km across.

Hellas plain(Hellas Planitia) - An almost circular impact depression with a diameter of 1800 km on the surface of Mars. The Hellas Plain, which stands out in a light color, has long been marked on maps of Mars. Previously it was called simply "Hellas".

And this is Mount Olympus on our mother Earth...

Everyone famous mountain Olympus is located in Pieria, in Central Macedonia, 100 km from Thessaloniki. Many people know about Pieria and Olympus from Greek mythology. Some became acquainted with this area of Greece from the stories of tourists who visited there. A unique combination of endless beaches, golden sand, clean sea, a mythical mountain with natural beauties, developed tourism infrastructure make this region popular both among residents of the country and abroad.

Greenery, rivers and captivating landscapes are found everywhere and dominated by Mount Olympus, the legendary mountain that boasts 1,600 species of flora and fauna, many of which are found nowhere else. national reserve Olympus is characterized by enormous biodiversity. 1,700 plant species are found here, corresponding to 25% of all species found in Greece. 23 of them are endemic species, that is, found only here. The fauna is represented by 8 species of amphibians, 22 species of reptiles, 32 species of wild mammals, 136 species of birds.

Olympus is considered to be both a mountain range with 52 peaks and its highest peak - the double-headed Olympus with a saddle-throne, where the Olympian gods gathered for symposiums. Today, Mount Olympus is a massif of four main peaks and more than 1,700 canyons and plateaus on the border of Thessaly and Macedonia. The highest of these peaks and highest point Greece - Mount Mytikas (2917 m). It faces a deep chasm called Kazanya (“Cauldron”). The remaining peaks surrounding the chasm are called Stefani, Scala and Scolio.

Stephanie is also known as the "Throne of Zeus" and when viewed from certain angles, the mountain actually resembles the back of a giant chair or throne. This area was the first in Greece to be officially named a “National Park” (since 1938). Then, in 1981, UNESCO declared Olympus "part of the World Natural Heritage", and in 1985 Olympus became part of the "Archaeological and historical heritage" The park territory begins at an altitude of 600 meters and reaches the “Top of Zeus” or Mytikas (2919 m).

Mount Olympus, with its slopes covered with greenery and its peak always covered with clouds, reigns with majestic calm over the entire coast of blessed Pieria. Olympus is the center of world tourism and a place of pilgrimage for climbers and simply nature lovers from all over the world. The view of Pieria and its coast from Olympus was taken under the protection of UNESCO, which declared Olympus a monument to the world biosphere. A fairly safe route to the top of Olympus has been developed for tourists. In a matter of minutes you can change the gentle roar of the sea to the burning air of the glaciers of Olympus with its sudden coolness.

In ancient Greek mythology, Olympus is sacred mountain, the seat of the gods led by Zeus. In this regard, the Greek gods are often called "Olympians." On the northern slope there was a city-sanctuary of the Macedonians - Dion, that is, the city of Zeus. Since people imagined that, in addition to the spirits living nearby - in the hearth, trees, rivers and graves of their ancestors - spirits, powerful gods ruled over them, they began to look for a worthy abode for the gods. Residents of mountainous countries had it easier in this regard. They gave the highest mountain to the gods.

The Greeks gave Olympus to their gods, which Homer called “many-peaked.” One could understand this epithet in the sense that Olympus was thought of as consisting of two or more peaks. But on modern photography Olympus gives the impression of a heap of rocks, and, obviously, such a picture appeared to ancient observers. Perhaps the clue to the epithet “multivertex” is given by the presence in different parts There are sixteen mountains called Olympus on the Balkan Peninsula, in Asia Minor and on the island of Lesbos.

Initially, Olympus (it is unknown which one) was occupied by the snake-like titan Ophion and his oceanid wife Eurynome. Cronus and Rhea liked this place, and they occupied it, expelling Ophion and Eurynome, who had found refuge in the ocean. Cronos and Rhea were expelled from Olympus by Zeus. The gods lived a carefree and cheerful life. The gates of Olympus were guarded by the virgin goddesses of time ora. Neither beast nor man could wander there. Gathering together, the gods and goddesses feasted, enjoying ambrosia, which restored strength and gave immortality. They quenched their thirst with fragrant nectar. Nectar and ambrosia were carried to the gods and goddesses by the handsome young man Ganymede.

There was no shortage of entertainment on Olympus. To please the ears and eyes of the celestials, the white-legged Harites, the goddess of eternal joy, holding hands, led round dances. Sometimes Apollo himself took up the cithara, and all nine muses sang along with him in agreement. If you got tired of music, songs and dances, you could go from the heights of Olympus. look at the ground. The most fascinating sight for the gods was the war that flared up here and there. The inhabitants of Olympus had their favorites. One sympathized with the Greeks, the other with the Trojans. Sometimes, seeing that his charges were being crowded, first one or the other god left the place of observation and, descending to the ground, entered into battle. Entering into a rage, the combatants did not see the difference between mortals and celestials. Then the gods had to flee, clutching the colorless, fragrant blood flowing in streams with their palms.

Subsequently, when the people of the ancient world learned more about the universe, by Olympus they began to understand not just one mountain, but the entire sky. It was believed that Olympus covers the earth like a vault and the Sun, Moon and Stars wander along it. When the Sun stood at its zenith, they said that it was at the top of Olympus. They thought that in the evening, when it passes through the western gate of Olympus, i.e. the sky closes, and in the morning it is opened by the goddess of dawn Eos.

According to tradition, the ascent to the Greek Olympus must be carried out on foot. And only the gods have the right to climb there on their horseless chariots. In bad weather, Mount Olympus is dangerous and capricious. It is believed that it is Zeus who frowns his eyebrows. You should not be afraid of this, but it is advisable to carry out the ascent with an experienced guide who knows all the paths and hidden places of the mountain very well. Once you reach the top, you will be treated to a beautiful view of Greece. The azure will appear before you, clear sky and sparkling sea. The sprawling valleys and forests will delight the eye.

And now a video on MARS.

Mountains are grandiose creations of nature. Anyone who has stood at least once on the top of the five-thousander Elbrus will understand me. Imagine what delight a climber can experience if he finds himself at the top of the highest mountain known to mankind.

1. The main contender is Mount Olympus(an extinct shield volcano on Mars, see photo above). Named after Mount Olympus in Greece, where (according to myth) the gods lived. Olympus rises 21 km above the surface of the planet and 27 km in relation to the base. This is twice the height of Mauna Kea (the tallest mountain on Earth - 10 km from its base on the ocean floor). Olympus has a huge area of 540 km and very steep slopes up to 7 km high. There is a possibility that the slopes of Olympus have been washed away by the ocean that once existed on Mars.

2. Second contender discovered on Vesta, the largest asteroid in the solar system. The nameless mountain is located on south pole Vesta inside a giant crater with a diameter of about 500 km. According to measurements, the height of the mountain is more than 21 kilometers from the base and this is (probably) higher than the Martian Olympus by several hundred meters. The diameter of the mountain is 180 km. Note that Vesta is not an ordinary asteroid, but a protoplanet. Vesta is spherical and has a structure (crust, mantle, core).

3. On Iapetus(saturn moon) discovered mountain range, which has several peaks 20 km high.

4. Verona Rupes- a huge mountain on Miranda (a satellite of Uranus). The height of this mountain is 20 kilometers from the base. The unusual thing is that this mountain was formed on a small satellite, which has a diameter of only 472 kilometers. This fact indirectly confirms the theory that Miranda was reassembled in parts after a catastrophic collision with a huge asteroid.

5. On Oberon(the second largest satellite of URANUS) mountains are discovered, the highest of which is 20 km high. Oberon consists of a mixture of rocks and ice and has a diameter of 1524 km. Oberon has many craters, some with glowing bottoms and others with dark bottoms. A large number of craters is evidence of a long absence of geological activity.

6. In Almaty(a satellite of Jupiter) there are two mountains 20 km high. Amalthea has an irregular shape. Its dimensions are 262 x 146 x 134 km. Amalthea's surface reflects only 2% of sunlight and is the reddest in the solar system. It is covered with many impact craters and due to the strong tidal action of Jupiter
Amalthea always faces the planet with one side.

7. Mount Arsia- an extinct shield volcano on Mars. Arsia's diameter is about 435 km, its height is almost 19 km above the average surface of Mars. The volcano's caldera is almost 110 km wide. After Olympus, it is the second highest volcano on the planet.

8. Mount Askrian- an extinct volcano on Mars, located near the Martian equator. Mount Askrian is considered one of the most high volcanoes on Mars. Its peak is located at an altitude of about 18 km above the average surface level of Mars. The volcano is 460 km in diameter and was formed by relatively recent eruptions of liquid lava.

9. On Io(a satellite of Jupiter), mountains 17 km high were discovered. Io is the closest of the four Galilean moons to the planet. It has a diameter of 3,642 kilometers, making it the fourth largest moon in the Solar System. Named after the mythological Io - priestess of Hera and lover of Zeus. Io's surface is very hot. On average, it emits 2.5 watts every second from every square meter. This is more than in the most active volcanic zones on Earth. There are sulfur geysers up to 300 km high, giant volcanoes that flood thousands of square kilometers with lava. Io's phenomenal volcanism has produced some of the tallest mountains in the entire solar system.

10. Peacock Mountain - a volcano on Mars near the Martian equator. The highest Mount Olympus is to the northwest. Mount Pavonis rises 14 km above the average surface of Mars (and more than 20 km from its base). For comparison, the highest mountain on Earth, Everest, is 8,848 km above sea level.