Journey through the Labyrinth of Night, a vast Martian canyon system spanning 1190 kilometers
Between the towering volcanoes of Tharsis and the massive Valles Marineris canyon lies Noctis Labyrinthus. This intricate network of deep, steep valleys stretches across the Martian surface like a fractured landscape. New visualizations from the Mars Express orbiter reveal the dramatic tectonic scars left behind by ancient, intense volcanic activity.
Noctis Labyrinthus, or the Labyrinth of Night, is a sprawling geological feature extending roughly 1190 km, comparable to the length of Italy. This region is defined by a complex system of intersecting canyons and valleys that reach depths of up to six km and widths of up to 30 km. The landscape is characterized by deep graben, which are sections of the Martian crust that have subsided relative to the surrounding terrain.
The formation of this labyrinth is directly linked to the intense volcanism of the nearby Tharsis region. As volcanic activity occurred, vast areas of the Martian crust were pushed upward, causing the surface to stretch and experience significant tectonic stress. This process led to the thinning and faulting of the crust, eventually causing large sections to collapse. The highest plateaus visible today represent the original surface level that existed before these massive chunks of crust fell away.
The surface of these valleys is marked by evidence of ongoing environmental processes. Gigantic landslides are frequently observed covering the valley slopes and floors, while large dune fields indicate the persistent action of Martian winds, which move sand both up and down the slopes. To visualize this, the European Space Agency utilized data from the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) aboard Mars Express, which has been orbiting the planet since 2003. By combining image mosaics from eight different orbits with digital terrain models, researchers created a three-dimensional perspective of the region, centered at 7°S, 265°E.
This mission continues to provide critical insights into the Martian environment, building on previous highlights from 2006 and 2015. Beyond mapping the surface, Mars Express probes the planet's tenuous atmosphere, analyzes mineral composition, and investigates the interactions between various phenomena beneath the crust. The recent visualization employs vertical exaggeration to emphasize the dramatic topography, offering a clearer view of the tectonic history etched into the Red Planet.
Source: Fly across Mars’ ‘labyrinth of night’ with Mars Express
