Daedalia Planum

Today's VIS image shows a small part of Daedalia Planum. The lava flows originate from Arsia Mons, one of the large volcanoes in the Tharsis region. The different surface textures are created by differences in the lava viscosity and cooling rates. The lobate margins of each flow can be traced back to the start of each flow -- or to the point where they are covered by younger flows. Flows in Daedalia Planum can be as long as 180 km.