Elysium Fossae and Iberus Vallis

Today's VIS image contains a section of one of the many channel forms found radial to the Elysium Mons volcanic complex. In this case the fossae is located to the southeast of the volcano. The channel feature is thought to have both a tectonic and volcanic origin. The linear depression at the upper left of the image resembles a graben (formed by tectonic forces) and the smaller sinuous channels below the large linear depression more closely resemble features caused by fluid flow - either lava or water created by melting subsurface ice by volcanic heating. The linear depression is called Elysium Fossae, and the sinuous channel is called Iberus Vallis. Iberus Vallis is 87 km long (54 miles).