List of tallest mountains in the Solar System
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:10:43 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of the tallest mountains in the Solar System. This list includes peaks on all celestial bodies where significant mountains have been detected. For some celestial bodies, different peaks are given across different types of measurement. The Solar System's tallest mountain is possibly the Olympus Mons on Mars with an altitude of 21 to 26 km. The central peak of Rheasilvia on the asteroid Vesta is also a candidate to be the tallest, with an estimated height between 19 and 22 km from peak to base.
Tables
· List
Mercury
Mercury
Planet
Mercury
Tallest peak(s)
Caloris Montes
Base-to-peak height
≤ 3 km (1 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
impact
Notes
Formed by the Caloris impact
Venus
Venus
Planet
Venus
Tallest peak(s)
Maat Mons
Base-to-peak height
4 km (3 mi) (approx.)
% of radius
0
Origin
volcanic
Notes
Highest volcano on Venus
Earth
Earth
Planet
Earth
Tallest peak(s)
Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa
Base-to-peak height
10 km (6 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
volcanic
Notes
4 km (2 mi) of this is above sea level
Haleakalā
Haleakalā
Planet
Haleakalā
Tallest peak(s)
9 km (5 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
Rises 3 km above sea level
Pico del Teide
Pico del Teide
Planet
Pico del Teide
Tallest peak(s)
7 km (4 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
Rises 3 km above sea level
Denali (Mount McKinley)
Denali (Mount McKinley)
Planet
Denali (Mount McKinley)
Tallest peak(s)
5 to 5 km (3 to 3 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
tectonic
Origin
Tallest mountain base-to-peak on land
Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Planet
Mount Everest
Tallest peak(s)
3 to 4 km (2 to 2 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
tectonic
Origin
4 km on north face, 3 km on south face; highest elevation (8 km) above sea level, as well as by wet and dry prominence (but not among the tallest from base to peak, nor in distance to Earth's center, as Chimborazo rises highest).
Moon
Moon
Planet
Moon
Tallest peak(s)
Mons Huygens
Base-to-peak height
5 km (3 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
impact
Notes
Formed by the Imbrium impact.
Mons Mouton
Mons Mouton
Planet
Mons Mouton
Tallest peak(s)
6 km (3 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
impact
Origin
Possibly formed by the South Pole-Aitken basin impact.
Southern Farside Mountain
Southern Farside Mountain
Planet
Southern Farside Mountain
Tallest peak(s)
7 km (4 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
impact
Origin
Informal name of the Moon's tallest free-standing mountain. Possibly formed by the South Pole-Aitken basin impact. Not highest lunar peak by prominence, which would be Selenean summit.
Mons Hadley
Mons Hadley
Planet
Mons Hadley
Tallest peak(s)
4 km (2 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
impact
Origin
Formed by the Imbrium impact
Mons Rümker
Mons Rümker
Planet
Mons Rümker
Tallest peak(s)
1 km (0 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
Largest volcanic construct on the Moon
Mars
Mars
Planet
Mars
Tallest peak(s)
Olympus Mons
Base-to-peak height
21 –26 km (13 –16 mi; 72,000–85,000 ft)
% of radius
0
Origin
volcanic
Notes
Tallest mountain in the Solar System. Rises 26 km above northern plains, (dry prominence) 1000 km away. Summit calderas are 60×80 km wide, up to 3 km deep; scarp around margin is up to 8 km high. A shield volcano, the mean flank slope is a modest 5 degrees.
Ascraeus Mons
Ascraeus Mons
Planet
Ascraeus Mons
Tallest peak(s)
14 km (9 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
Tallest of the three Tharsis Montes
Elysium Mons
Elysium Mons
Planet
Elysium Mons
Tallest peak(s)
12 km (7 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
Highest volcano in Elysium
Arsia Mons
Arsia Mons
Planet
Arsia Mons
Tallest peak(s)
11 km (7 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
Summit caldera is 108 to 138 km (67 to 86 mi) across
Pavonis Mons
Pavonis Mons
Planet
Pavonis Mons
Tallest peak(s)
8 km (5 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
Summit caldera is 4 km (3 mi) deep
Anseris Mons
Anseris Mons
Planet
Anseris Mons
Tallest peak(s)
6 km (3 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
impact
Origin
Among the highest nonvolcanic peaks on Mars, formed by the Hellas impact
Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp")
Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp")
Planet
Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp")
Tallest peak(s)
4 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
deposition and erosion
Origin
Formed from deposits in Gale crater; the MSL rover has been ascending it since November 2014.
Vesta
Vesta
Planet
Vesta
Tallest peak(s)
Rheasilvia central peak
Base-to-peak height
20–22 km (12–14 mi; 66,000–72,000 ft)
% of radius
8
Origin
impact
Notes
Almost 200 km (120 mi) wide. See also: List of largest craters in the Solar System
Ceres
Ceres
Planet
Ceres
Tallest peak(s)
Ahuna Mons
Base-to-peak height
4 km (2 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
cryovolcanic
Notes
Isolated steep-sided dome in relatively smooth area; max. height of ~ 5 km on steepest side; roughly antipodal to largest impact basin on Ceres
Io
Io
Planet
Io
Tallest peak(s)
Boösaule Montes "South"
Base-to-peak height
17 to 18 km (10 to 11 mi)
% of radius
1
Origin
tectonic
Notes
Has a 15 km (9 mi) high scarp on its SE margin
Ionian Mons east ridge
Ionian Mons east ridge
Planet
Ionian Mons east ridge
Tallest peak(s)
12 km (7 mi) (approx.)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
tectonic
Origin
Has the form of a curved double ridge
Euboea Montes
Euboea Montes
Planet
Euboea Montes
Tallest peak(s)
10 to 13 km (6 to 8 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
tectonic
Origin
A NW flank landslide left a 25,000 km3 debris apron
unnamed (245° W, 30° S)
unnamed (245° W, 30° S)
Planet
unnamed (245° W, 30° S)
Tallest peak(s)
2 km (1 mi) (approx.)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
volcanic
Origin
One of the tallest of Io's many volcanoes, with an atypical conical form
Mimas
Mimas
Planet
Mimas
Tallest peak(s)
Herschel central peak
Base-to-peak height
7 km (4 mi) (approx.)
% of radius
3
Origin
impact
Notes
See also: List of largest craters in the Solar System
Dione
Dione
Planet
Dione
Tallest peak(s)
Janiculum Dorsa
Base-to-peak height
1 km (0 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
tectonic
Notes
Surrounding crust depressed ca. 0 km.
Titan
Titan
Planet
Titan
Tallest peak(s)
Mithrim Montes
Base-to-peak height
≤ 3 km (2 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
tectonic
Notes
May have formed due to global contraction
Doom Mons
Doom Mons
Planet
Doom Mons
Tallest peak(s)
1 km (0 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
cryovolcanic
Origin
Adjacent to Sotra Patera, a 1 km (1 mi) deep collapse feature
Iapetus
Iapetus
Planet
Iapetus
Tallest peak(s)
equatorial ridge
Base-to-peak height
20 km (12 mi) (approx.)
% of radius
2
Origin
uncertain
Notes
Individual peaks have not been measured
Oberon
Oberon
Planet
Oberon
Tallest peak(s)
unnamed ("limb mountain")
Base-to-peak height
11 km (7 mi) (approx.)
% of radius
1
Origin
impact (?)
Notes
A value of 6 km was given shortly after the Voyager 2 encounter
Pluto
Pluto
Planet
Pluto
Tallest peak(s)
Tenzing Montes, peak "T2"
Base-to-peak height
~6 km (3 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
tectonic (?)
Notes
Composed of water ice; named after Tenzing Norgay
Piccard Mons
Piccard Mons
Planet
Piccard Mons
Tallest peak(s)
~5 km (3 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
cryovolcanic (?)
Origin
~220 km across; central depression is 11 km deep
Wright Mons
Wright Mons
Planet
Wright Mons
Tallest peak(s)
~4 km (2 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
cryovolcanic (?)
Origin
~160 km across; summit depression ~56 km across and 4 km deep
Charon
Charon
Planet
Charon
Tallest peak(s)
Butler Mons
Base-to-peak height
≥ 4 km (2 mi)
% of radius
0
Origin
tectonic (?)
Notes
Vulcan Planitia, the southern plains, has several isolated peaks, possibly tilted crustal blocks
Dorothy central peak
Dorothy central peak
Planet
Dorothy central peak
Tallest peak(s)
~4 km (2 mi)
Base-to-peak height
0
% of radius
impact
Origin
North polar impact basin Dorothy, Charon's largest, is ~240 km across and 6 km deep
Máni
Máni
Planet
Máni
Tallest peak(s)
unnamed
Base-to-peak height
25 km (16 mi)
% of radius
6
Origin
impact
Notes
Discovered by stellar occultation; it is unclear whether this feature is a genuine topographic peak or a transiting/occulting satellite.
| Planet | Tallest peak(s) | Base-to-peak height | % of radius | Origin | Notes |
| Mercury | Caloris Montes | ≤ 3 km (1 mi) | 0 | impact | Formed by the Caloris impact |
| Venus | Maat Mons | 4 km (3 mi) (approx.) | 0 | volcanic | Highest volcano on Venus |
| Earth | Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa | 10 km (6 mi) | 0 | volcanic | 4 km (2 mi) of this is above sea level |
| Haleakalā | 9 km (5 mi) | 0 | volcanic | Rises 3 km above sea level | |
| Pico del Teide | 7 km (4 mi) | 0 | volcanic | Rises 3 km above sea level | |
| Denali (Mount McKinley) | 5 to 5 km (3 to 3 mi) | 0 | tectonic | Tallest mountain base-to-peak on land | |
| Mount Everest | 3 to 4 km (2 to 2 mi) | 0 | tectonic | 4 km on north face, 3 km on south face; highest elevation (8 km) above sea level, as well as by wet and dry prominence (but not among the tallest from base to peak, nor in distance to Earth's center, as Chimborazo rises highest). | |
| Moon | Mons Huygens | 5 km (3 mi) | 0 | impact | Formed by the Imbrium impact. |
| Mons Mouton | 6 km (3 mi) | 0 | impact | Possibly formed by the South Pole-Aitken basin impact. | |
| Southern Farside Mountain | 7 km (4 mi) | 0 | impact | Informal name of the Moon's tallest free-standing mountain. Possibly formed by the South Pole-Aitken basin impact. Not highest lunar peak by prominence, which would be Selenean summit. | |
| Mons Hadley | 4 km (2 mi) | 0 | impact | Formed by the Imbrium impact | |
| Mons Rümker | 1 km (0 mi) | 0 | volcanic | Largest volcanic construct on the Moon | |
| Mars | Olympus Mons | 21 –26 km (13 –16 mi; 72,000–85,000 ft) | 0 | volcanic | Tallest mountain in the Solar System. Rises 26 km above northern plains, (dry prominence) 1000 km away. Summit calderas are 60×80 km wide, up to 3 km deep; scarp around margin is up to 8 km high. A shield volcano, the mean flank slope is a modest 5 degrees. |
| Ascraeus Mons | 14 km (9 mi) | 0 | volcanic | Tallest of the three Tharsis Montes | |
| Elysium Mons | 12 km (7 mi) | 0 | volcanic | Highest volcano in Elysium | |
| Arsia Mons | 11 km (7 mi) | 0 | volcanic | Summit caldera is 108 to 138 km (67 to 86 mi) across | |
| Pavonis Mons | 8 km (5 mi) | 0 | volcanic | Summit caldera is 4 km (3 mi) deep | |
| Anseris Mons | 6 km (3 mi) | 0 | impact | Among the highest nonvolcanic peaks on Mars, formed by the Hellas impact | |
| Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp") | 4 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi) | 0 | deposition and erosion | Formed from deposits in Gale crater; the MSL rover has been ascending it since November 2014. | |
| Vesta | Rheasilvia central peak | 20–22 km (12–14 mi; 66,000–72,000 ft) | 8 | impact | Almost 200 km (120 mi) wide. See also: List of largest craters in the Solar System |
| Ceres | Ahuna Mons | 4 km (2 mi) | 0 | cryovolcanic | Isolated steep-sided dome in relatively smooth area; max. height of ~ 5 km on steepest side; roughly antipodal to largest impact basin on Ceres |
| Io | Boösaule Montes "South" | 17 to 18 km (10 to 11 mi) | 1 | tectonic | Has a 15 km (9 mi) high scarp on its SE margin |
| Ionian Mons east ridge | 12 km (7 mi) (approx.) | 0 | tectonic | Has the form of a curved double ridge | |
| Euboea Montes | 10 to 13 km (6 to 8 mi) | 0 | tectonic | A NW flank landslide left a 25,000 km3 debris apron | |
| unnamed (245° W, 30° S) | 2 km (1 mi) (approx.) | 0 | volcanic | One of the tallest of Io's many volcanoes, with an atypical conical form | |
| Mimas | Herschel central peak | 7 km (4 mi) (approx.) | 3 | impact | See also: List of largest craters in the Solar System |
| Dione | Janiculum Dorsa | 1 km (0 mi) | 0 | tectonic | Surrounding crust depressed ca. 0 km. |
| Titan | Mithrim Montes | ≤ 3 km (2 mi) | 0 | tectonic | May have formed due to global contraction |
| Doom Mons | 1 km (0 mi) | 0 | cryovolcanic | Adjacent to Sotra Patera, a 1 km (1 mi) deep collapse feature | |
| Iapetus | equatorial ridge | 20 km (12 mi) (approx.) | 2 | uncertain | Individual peaks have not been measured |
| Oberon | unnamed ("limb mountain") | 11 km (7 mi) (approx.) | 1 | impact (?) | A value of 6 km was given shortly after the Voyager 2 encounter |
| Pluto | Tenzing Montes, peak "T2" | ~6 km (3 mi) | 0 | tectonic (?) | Composed of water ice; named after Tenzing Norgay |
| Piccard Mons | ~5 km (3 mi) | 0 | cryovolcanic (?) | ~220 km across; central depression is 11 km deep | |
| Wright Mons | ~4 km (2 mi) | 0 | cryovolcanic (?) | ~160 km across; summit depression ~56 km across and 4 km deep | |
| Charon | Butler Mons | ≥ 4 km (2 mi) | 0 | tectonic (?) | Vulcan Planitia, the southern plains, has several isolated peaks, possibly tilted crustal blocks |
| Dorothy central peak | ~4 km (2 mi) | 0 | impact | North polar impact basin Dorothy, Charon's largest, is ~240 km across and 6 km deep | |
| Máni | unnamed | 25 km (16 mi) | 6 | impact | Discovered by stellar occultation; it is unclear whether this feature is a genuine topographic peak or a transiting/occulting satellite. |
References
- 100 × ratio of peak height to radius of the parent world
- On Earth, mountain heights are constrained by glaciation; peaks are usually limited to elevations not more than 1500 m a
- On p. 20 of Helman (2005): "the base to peak rise of Mount McKinley is the largest of any mountain that lies entirely ab
- Peak is 8 km (5 mi) above sea level, and over 13 km (8 mi) above the oceanic abyssal plain.
- Prominences in crater rims are not typically viewed as peaks and have not been listed here. The highest point on the Moohttps://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=List_of_tallest_mountains_in_the_Solar_System¶ms=5.441_N_158.656_W_globe:moon_type:landmark
- Due to limitations in the accuracy of the measurements and the lack of a precise definition of "base", it is difficult t
- About 5 km (3 mi) high from the perspective of the landing site of Curiosity.
- A crater central peak may sit below the mound of sediment. If that sediment was deposited while the crater was flooded,
- Among the Solar System's largest
- Some of Io's paterae are surrounded by radial patterns of lava flows, indicating they are on a topographic high point, m
- Was apparently formed via contraction.
- Hypotheses of origin include crustal readjustment associated with a decrease in oblateness due to tidal locking, and dep
- A linearized wide-angle hazcam image that makes the mountain look steeper than it actually is. The highest peak is not v
- Geophysical Research Lettershttps://doi.org/10.1002%2F2017GL075468
- MESSENGER web sitehttps://web.archive.org/web/20160930094920/http://www.messenger-education.org/elusive_planet/surface.htm
- Icarushttps://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010Icar..209..230O
- Earth and Planetary Science Lettershttps://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009E&PSL.285..297F
- Planetary Photojournalhttps://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00106
- Journal of Geophysical Researchhttp://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1995/95JE00147.shtml
- Naturehttps://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009Natur.460..884E