Noachis Terra Dunes
Noachis Terra Dunes
Noachis Terra Dunes
Noachis Terra Dunes

Noachis Terra Dunes

Mars has some of the most highly varied and interesting terrain of any of the terrestrial planets, some of it quite spectacular:


• Olympus Mons: the largest mountain in the Solar System rising 24 km (78,000 ft.) above the surrounding plain. Its base is more than 500 km in diameter and is rimmed by a cliff 6 km (20,000 ft) high.

• Tharsis: a huge bulge on the Martian surface that is about 4000 km across and 10 km high.

• Valles Marineris: a system of canyons 4000 km long and from 2 to 7 km deep;

• Hellas Planitia: an impact crater in the southern hemisphere over 6 km deep and 2000 km in diameter.

Much of the Martian surface is very old and cratered, but there are also much younger rift valleys, ridges, hills and plains.