This is an image of a Venusian volcanic dome.
Click on image for full size
NASA/JPL
Venus Domes
These domes may look a little bit like craters, but they are really
flat-topped volcanoes.
Mt Pelee in Martinique, West Indies, and Lassen Peak and Mono domes in California are examples of similar lava domes on Earth.
These domes are formed the same way some islands are built on Earth, by a hot plume, or bubble of material from the deep interior of Venus, which rises to the surface. These plumes push out the crust and cause volcanic activity.
Among the different kinds of domes on Venus are:
You might also be interested in:
How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable.
...moreThis is a Venus dome viewed from the ground. The Magellan radar-mapper made a view like this possible.
...moreMt. Pelee is not a very tall volcano, in fact it is an example of what is called a "lava dome". An extremely destructive eruption of Mount Pelee occurred in 1902. A coastal town, about 4 miles downslope
...moreLassen Peak is an example of what is called a "volcanic dome". The most recent eruptive activity occurred at Lassen Peak in 1914-1917. The eruption began on May 30, 1914, with a small vent near the summit
...moreOn Venus, domes can sometimes rise up and then collapse. Collapsed domes are called "crowns". Crowns are a signature of volcanism on Venus. Other kinds of domes on Venus are: pancakedomes (shown here)
...moreAlpha Regio is an example of what is known as a "Plateau Highland" of Venus. The only volcano known to be found on Alpha Regio is Eve Mons. A Plateau Highland is like a continent, and is different from
...moreThe Magellan mission to Venus confirmed that the surface of Venus is definitely volcanic. As shown in this picture, lava flows extend to hundreds of miles across the plains in the foreground. The surface
...moreAphrodite Terra, the Greek name for the goddess Venus, is about the size of half the continent of Africa, and is to be found along the equator of Venus. Aphrodite Terra is different from Ishtar Terra in
...more