Mars is significantly smaller than earth (fig.90) and yet boasts surface features that are massive,
literally dwarfing those found on earth or indeed on any other planet in our solar system. Apart
from its missing water and this line of dichotomy being the largest single cliff in the solar system
(an average of 3 klms high – and just think about that for a second), Mars also boasts the largest
Canyon, the largest volcanoes and the largest crater in our solar system. The sheer size of these
surface features seems out of all proportion on our smaller neighbor. Not bad for one little planet.
Fig.90When I say these volcanoes are large I mean really huge. The largest of the three, known as
Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the solar system (fig.91). It is more than 372.84 miles
(600 km) across, towers 16.8 miles (27 km) above the surrounding plain and has a caldera of over
50 miles (80 km) wide! Noticeably all three of these huge volcanoes are located on the top section
of the planet while near its equator is the largest canyon imaginable. Known as Valles Marinares,
this gigantic rift on the surface of Mars makes the Grand Canyon look like a furrow (fig.92).
Fig.91