Claritas Fossae

Located between the lava plains of Daedalia Planum and Solis Planum, Claritas Fossae is a graben filled highland. The long, linear depressions in this VIS image are called graben. Graben are formed by tectonic activity, where extensional forces stretch the surface allowing blocks of material to slide down between paired faults. These linear grabens are termed fossae. This region of Mars had very active tectonism and volcanism, resulting in huge volcanos like Arsia Mons and the deep chasmata of Valles Marineris. Claritas Fossae was formed prior to the large lava flows of the Tharsis region.