Melas Chasma Landslides

This VIS image is located in Melas Chasma. The linear and arcuate features are on the surface of a large landslide. This region of Melas Chasma is covered by several very large landslide deposits. Melas Chasma is part of the largest canyon system on Mars, Valles Marineris. At only 563 km long (349 miles) Melas is not the longest canyon, but it is the widest. Located in the center of Valles Marineris, it has depths up to 9,000 meters (30,000 feet) from the surrounding plains. In addition to landslide deposits, there are layered materials and sand dunes. There is evidence of both water and wind action as modes of formation for many of the interior deposits.