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Transition Zone


The image shows the transition zone between Iani Chaos and Ares Vallis. Ares Vallis is one of several big outflow channels on Mars in this region that formed billions of years ago. Many surface features suggest that erosion of large water flows had carved Ares Vallis in the Martian landscape. Most likely gigantic floods ran downhill, carving a deep canyon into Xanthe Terra. Rocks eroded from the valley flanks were milled into smaller fractions and transported in the running water.


"We'll all say that. We'll all go on and make the place safe. Roads, cities. New sky, new soil. Until it's some kind of Siberia or Northwest Territories, and Mars will be gone and we'll be here, and we'll wonder why we feel so empty. Why when we look at the land we can never see anything but our own faces."

Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Mars

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