Verona Rupes: The Largest Cliff in the Solar System
Verona Rupes is a cliff on Uranus’s moon Miranda, and at 12.4 miles deep (20 km), it’s the tallest sheer cliff in the solar system. For perspective, Verona Rupes is 10 times deeper than the Grand Canyon. Its edge seems like an ominous place to stand and gaze at the wonder that is Miranda, but here’s the funny thing—you could probably survive a leap off this colossal structure, thanks to the paltry gravity on this tiny moon, which measures just 292 miles (470 km) in diameter. According to NASA, a free fall from top to bottom should take about 12 minutes, so you better bring something to read for the trip down. As to how this structure formed, scientists suspect a large impact or tectonic forces.
