Regional overview map of the Mangala Valles and Minio Vallis region
Regional overview map of the Mangala Valles and Minio Vallis region
The region shown is located west of the large volcanic Tharsis bulge. Tectonic stresses, caused by ascending magma and the resulting volcanic eruptions over a period of several billion years, prompted the crust to break up in many places. This created natural run-off routes for water, which possibly originated from melting ice sheets, as it made its way north towards the Martian lowlands.
