Huo Hsing Vallis

Today's VIS image shows part of Huo Hsing Valles, located in northern Terra Sabaea. As with all channel forms on Mars, it was carved by some moving fluid but that fluid can not automatically be assumed to be water. Lava and even wind can sculpt channel forms that mimic those of flowing water. In this case, the presence of a pronounced xbow bend (center of image) favors the conclusion that water was the fluid. This valley system is 318 km (197 miles) long.