THEMIS Vistas

ESCAPING GROUNDWATER undermined the surface, causing pits and troughs to form, such as this one in Coprates Catena, part of the Valles Marineris canyon system. The white patch in the middle distance is a deposit of sulfate minerals left when a temporary lake in the trough evaporated. This view looks southeast. (A 2.3 MB version of the image is available.) Credit: NASA/JPL/Arizona State University, R. Luk.

To explore Coprates Chasma further, check out the THEMIS feature article.