Part 7/10:
One of the most awe-inspiring formations is Olympus Mons, a shield volcano towering about 22 km above its base—nearly three times the height of Mount Everest. Its broad, gentle slopes, with an average tilt of only 5°, contrast sharply with the jagged peaks of Earth's volcanoes, thanks to Mars's lower gravity. The volcano's expansive base spans over 600 km, essentially forming a giant, flat-topped mountain visible from space.
Another dramatic feature is Valles Marineris, a massive canyon system that stretches across the Martian surface. Its immense size compresses the imagination, rivaling the grandeur of Earth's geological formations, and it hints at a long and turbulent geological past.