One of the most beautiful, mysterious and attractive for tourists and travelers objects of natural origin are mountain systems in different parts of our planet. Scientists and climbers are engaged in their study and conquest. By the way, each continent has its own highest mountain point. The world famous Mount Everest is recognized as the highest mountain point of our planet (8848 m). Every self-respecting climber dreams of conquering her, and every traveler inspects and visits at its foot.
But is it true that Everest is the highest mountain in the solar system?
Everest rival
Scientists have established such an interesting fact that even on Earth this is not the main formation in height. In the bowels of the Pacific Ocean, in the Hawaiian Islands, there is a volcano that has been silent for a long time - Mauna Kea. Its height, together with the underwater part, is more than 10 kilometers. Above sea level, it is only 4.5 kilometers, but if you count in general, then, in principle, it turns out that the highest mountain in the solar system is not Mount Everest, but rather Mauna Kea.
Outside the earth
In addition to our planet, the Universe contains millions of stars, planets, satellites and other celestial bodies that have not yet been studied. Only Earth is suitable for life. The remaining planets are studied by scientists together with astronauts. Satellites go there, samples of soil, water are taken.
Astrogeology
The movement of lithospheric plates gives the Earth the primacy in the formation of naturally high mountain peaks. However, with the development of technologies and programs for the study of space and planets, scientists have come to the conclusion that the highest mountain in the solar system may be located outside the planet Earth. The study of this and many other cosmic issues about the mountains is the science of astrogeology. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the usual parameters when studying mountains on our planet are not suitable for the solar system as a whole.
The reference point above sea level is absent in such studies. Therefore, it is difficult to classify mountain systems on Earth and other planets in one group. However, in general, the scientific reality is such that many different cosmic mountain formations are discovered. This fact can significantly affect the name of the highest mountain in the solar system. A feature of the formation of such massifs is the impact of the planet on a body, a volcanic eruption, and tectonic movement.
Mars and Vesta
Scientists openly and justified enough theories. This was made possible thanks to the development of technologies for studying the terrestrial planets using special devices that were sent to space and received the necessary data and images. Basically, there are two champions who can claim the title of the planet on which the highest mountain in the solar system is located.
Vesta - a huge asteroid - takes first place. Reyasilvia peak was found on its surface. It is formed naturally. He is considered the result of a collision of a planet with some body. The diameter of the planet is quite small compared with other applicants. However, the height of education is the highest - 22.5 kilometers. Its discovery provides an answer to the question of which planet has the highest mountain in the solar system. It is located on the West, if we consider it a planet.
The second largest system-wide mountain volcano is Olympus, which is located on Mars. Its name comes from the mythical mountain Olympus of the same name, on which all the gods and goddesses described in the myths of Ancient Greece lived. This is symbolic, since the height and area of an extinct volcano amaze any imagination - 22 km in height and 54 km in width!
In various works of astrological scientists, it is indicated that if there was an opportunity to be on top of the volcano itself, it is simply impossible to see its slopes, they go far beyond the horizon. Prior to the detection of a peak in the West crater, this formation was considered the highest and largest. This discovery dissuaded the world community that the highest mountain in the solar system is on Mars.
In addition to these objects on Venus, Mars, Saturn, the Moon, many mountain ranges and volcanoes have been discovered, which become in line with the masses of the earth and do not concede to them, and often even exceed them in various physical parameters.