Chryse Chaos

Huge regions of complex valleys and chaos are located in Xanthe and Margaritifer Terras. Rising from Valles Marineris, outflow channels like Ares, Tiu and Shalbantana valles empty into Chryse Planitia. This VIS image shows part of Chryse Chaos, located within Masursky Crater, along the Tiu Valles channel. Chaos forms from erosion of the surface into mesa features. With time the valleys expand creating the jumble of hills seen in the image.