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Article: Elysium (volcanic province)

Formation
Crater counting done on the lava flows in the southern region show low cratering rates, which would indicate younger volcanic activity, as recent as 10 Myr.

Elysium contains numerous lava flow units with variable histories as well as volcanic and fluvial channels .The three major volcanoes of the region sit on top of a 1700 x 2400 km broad dome. The summit of Hecates Tholus shows evidence of pyroclastic activity. Martian volcanism has been dominated by effusive eruption styles and there is limited evidence to support widespread explosive or pyroclastic volcanic eruptions on Mars.

Elysium Mons is approximately 1.5 times as steep as any other Martian volcano at approximately 7-7.5°. The caldera at the summit of Elysium Mons is approximately 13.5 km in diameter. Extending past the rim of this central caldera are at least 18 sinuous channels thought to be the remnants of collapsed lava tubes and lava channels.

Observational History
The Viking orbiter noted that volcanic province of Elysium experienced more diverse types of volcanism than the Tharsis volcanic region.

The main science goals of the lander are to monitor the level of seismic activity occurring on Mars and to understand how Mars formed and how the planet has been evolving ever since.