Witness the ancient, water-carved scars of Mars through a virtual flight over Ares Vallis
Mars Express data reveals the dramatic geology of Ares Vallis, a massive outflow channel stretching over 1700 kilometers. By transforming orbital imagery into three-dimensional landscapes, we can explore the chaotic terrain, streamlined islands, and historic landing sites that suggest a once-flooded world, providing clues in the search for ancient life.
The Ares Vallis region, covering approximately 890,000 square kilometers, serves as a primary record of Mars's watery past. Billions of years ago, massive floods surged through this area, carving deep channels that descend from the southern highlands into the plains of Chryse Planitia. This landscape is defined by features like streamlined islands with teardrop-shaped tails, which point in the direction of the ancient flow, and terraced river banks that mark the former reach of these immense currents.
A defining characteristic of this region is its 'chaotic terrain,' such as the area near Hydaspis Chaos. Scientists believe this jumbled, blocky landscape formed when subsurface water was suddenly released, causing the ground above to lose support and collapse. Similar geological evidence appears in craters like Masursky, where eroded rims suggest water once flowed through from nearby Tiu Vallis, and Galilaei crater, which likely held a lake that eventually breached its walls to flood the surrounding plains.
This virtual exploration, created using High Resolution Stereo Camera data from the Mars Express mission, offers a detailed look at sites like the 1997 NASA Pathfinder landing zone. The flight also highlights Oxia Planum, the intended destination for the ESA ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover. By searching this water-enriched environment for signs of past or present life, researchers hope to unlock the secrets of the Martian surface. While the film uses a three-fold vertical exaggeration and added atmospheric haze to create a realistic experience, the underlying topography provides a scientifically grounded view of one of the most fascinating regions on the Red Planet.
Source: Fly around Ares Vallis on Mars
