Close to Ma’adim Vallis
Close to Ma’adim Vallis
Mars Express image of a region close to Ma’adim Vallis, one of the largest canyons on Mars after Valles Marineris. The imaged region lies southeast of Ma’adim Vallis. It is centred at about 29°S and 182°E and has a ground resolution of 15 metres per pixel.
Ma’adim Vallis is located between the volcanic region of Tharsis, which harbours four volcanoes, including the largest volcano in the Solar System, and the Hellas Planitia impact basin, and originates in the southern highlands close to the dichotomy boundary and ends in Gusev crater. The canyon is 20 kilometres wide and 2 kilometres deep.
The image covers an area of 138 x 70 kilometres, roughly the size of Cyprus. A sharp boundary is visible in the centre, dividing dark material to the west and light material to the east. Scientists suspect that this feature is most likely the edge of a basaltic lava flow.