Which state is closest to the area of Olympus Mons,
a) California
b) Arizona
c) Utah
d) Nevada
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is California.
Explanation:
Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the solar system, located on Mars. It covers an area of approximately 113,000 square kilometers (43,500 square miles), which is about the size of a large U.S. state. To understand which U.S. state is closest in size to Olympus Mons, let’s compare it with the areas of the four states mentioned:
- California: 423,970 square kilometers (163,696 square miles)
- Arizona: 295,234 square kilometers (113,990 square miles)
- Utah: 219,887 square kilometers (84,899 square miles)
- Nevada: 286,380 square kilometers (110,577 square miles)
Olympus Mons’ area of 113,000 square kilometers (43,500 square miles) is closest in size to California, though it is much smaller. Among the states listed, California’s vast expanse is the only one that is significantly larger than Olympus Mons, while the others are closer in size or even slightly smaller.
Moreover, while all these states have notable volcanic or geological features, California’s size, particularly considering its diverse terrain, makes it the closest match. The state is home to several mountain ranges, deserts, and vast areas of undeveloped land, which makes it easier to imagine it encompassing a structure the size of Olympus Mons.
Though no terrestrial volcano compares to the sheer scale of Olympus Mons, the comparison shows how large the Martian volcano is relative to Earth, covering an area similar to some of the largest states in the U.S.