Locations on Mars

Locations on this page have been chosen based on being both interesting and easy to identify.

Past evidence of water, caves, lava flows, and other features are covered in this page.

Mars Topographical Map

Tharsis Montes, Valles Marineris, Chryse Planitia

In the left of the image, Tharsis Montes is visible as a line of 3 large volcanoes (circular and white in appearance on the map), visually moving eastwards (to the right), Noctis Labyrinthus with its shattered appearance, further east the large canyon of Valles Marineris extends eastwards, and finally northwards, until it ends at Chryse Planitia, the ocean-like blue region in the top right of the image.

Many river-like outflow channels * are visible (having a blue in colour in the image), ending in Chryse Planitia.

* Outflow channels are long wide channels on Mars. They are thought to have been carved out by liquid water during huge rare episodic floods, although some authors believe they may have been formed by glaciers, lava, or debris flow.

Examples: notable outflow channels near the Chryse region include:
Kasei Vallis, Maja Valles, Shalbatana Vallis, Simud Valles, Tiu Valles, and Ares Vallis.

Low number of impact craters per area: There is a low number of visible impact craters in some places, which is an indication that the terrain is newer and many impact craters that previously would have been present, have been eroded or covered by some mechanism. This can be especially seen inside Chrysa Planitia, compared to the terrain surrounding it especially in the East.

There is also a relatively low number of impact craters in the area surrounding the 3 volcanoes and southwards, suggesting that lava flows (likely from the volcanoes) have recently covered this surface (seen especially in the red area in the above image). Notice also how the red area signifies it is higher than the surrounding terrain yet relatively flat, as might be expected if lava flowed over a surface.

Valles Marineris

Valles Marineris is a very large canyon on the surface of Mars, it is one of the largest canyons in the solar system, more than 4000 km (2500 mi) long, aproximately 200km (120 mi) wide and 7km (4.3 mi) deep.

Valles Marineris extends just eastwards from Tharsis Montes (the line of 3 large volcanoes - visible in the left of the top image on this page), and finally northwards, until it ends at Chryse Planitia, in the northern hemisphere.

Location:
Near the Equator. West.
East of Tharsis Montes (the line of 3 volcanoes in the Tharsis region).

Coordinates:
Lat Lng: 13.9° S 59.2° W     BASEMAP Coordinates: -59.2, -13.9

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Chryse Planitia

Chryse Planitia, which in Greek means "golden plain", is a relatively smooth plain in the northern region of Mars.

It is the ocean-like (colored blue in the image) region visible in the top right corner of the above image.

Chryse Planitia is one of the lowest regions of Mars, being 2 to 3 kilometers (1.2 to 1.9 mi) below the mean surface level of Mars, so any flowing water from higher elevations would tend to run into it.

Diameter:
1600 km, 990 mi

The Viking 1 Lander landed in Chryse Planitia.

Chryse Planitia shows evidence of water erosion in the past. On the southern edge, Valles Marineris ends in Chryse Planitia.
To the west, Kasei Valles and Maja Valles appear to run from high areas to Chryse Planitia, and it's believed these channels carried water into Chryse Planitia in the past. To the east, Areas Vallis ends in Chryse Planitia.

It's theorised that Chryse Planitia contained a large lake or ocean in the past, as all of the large outflow channels * entering it end at the same elevation.

Location:
Northern hemisphere. West.
East of Tharsis Montes (the line of 3 volcanoes in the Tharsis region).

Coordinates:
Lat Lng: 28.4 °N 319.7 °E     BASEMAP Coordinates: 319.7, 28.4

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Arsia Mons

Arsia Mons is the southernmost volcano of the line of 3 volcanoes of Tharsis Montes. It is a shield volcano *, 435 kilometers (270 mi) in diameter, and more than 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) higher than the surrounding plains.

It is visible on the left edge of the above image, as the southern most volcano.

Diameter:
435 km, 270 mi

7 cave entrances on the flanks of Arsia Mons appear to be visible on satellite imagery. These are believed to have been formed by the collapse of lava tube ceilings.

Location:
Northern hemisphere. West.
Tharsis Montes (southernmost volcano).

Coordinates:
Lat Lng: 8.35 °S 120.09 °W     BASEMAP Coordinates: -120.09, -8.35

* Shield Volcanoes are volcanoes having a low profile, resembling a warrior's shield lying on the ground, formed by the repeated release of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava over a long time period, which produces the volcano's shield like shape.

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Olympus Mons

Olympus Mons is a large shield volcano *, and the tallest mountain on a planet.

Its peak is 25 km (16 mi) high above the local plains surrounding it, and is about 602 km (374 mi) in diameter (which is about the size of Arizona, USA). Its caldera is 80 km (50 mi) wide.

Diameter:
602 km, 374 mi

Location:
North hemisphere. West.
Northwest of Tharsis Montes (the line of 3 volcanoes in the Tharsis region).

Coordinates:
Lat Lng: 18.65° N 226.2° E     BASEMAP Coordinates: 226.2, 18.65

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Isidis Planitia

Isidis Planitia is large plain in the Northeast of Mars, and the third largest obvious impact structure on the planet.

Diameter:
1500 km, 930 mi

When exploring Mars using online tools, Isidis Planitia can be identified by size and its shape, and is approximately 1500 km (930 mi) in diameter.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) found magnesium carbonate around the Isidis impact basin, indicates that water was present and that it was not acidic, PH conditions that would have been more favorable for life.

On the north-western edge of Isidis Planitia is the Jezero crater, which the Perseverance Rover is currently exploring.

Location:
Northern hemisphere. East.

Coordinates:
Lat Lng: 12.9 °N 87.0 °E     BASEMAP Coordinates: 87.0, 12.9

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Noctis Labyrinthus

Noctis Labyrinthus, (Latin for "labyrinth of night") is a system of deep steep walled valleys with chasmata *, grabens and crater chains that have a maze like appearance, part of the western region of Valles Marineris.

It is visible east of Arsia Mons (visible in the image above), with a shattered-like appearance.

Location:
Near the Equator. West.
East of Tharsis Montes.

* Chasma (singular), chasmata(plural), are deep, elongated, steep sided depressions. They are visible on Mars and many other planets and moons in the solar system.

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Using the NASA 3D Tool

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