Lunae Palus Quadrangle - Vallis

Vallis (plural valles) is the Latin word for valley. It is used in planetary geology for the naming of landform features on other planets.

Vallis (plural valles) was used for old river valleys that were discovered on Mars, when we probes were first sent to Mars. The Viking Orbiters caused a revolution in our ideas about water on Mars; huge river valleys were found in many areas. Orbiting cameras showed that floods of water broke through dams, carved deep valleys, eroded grooves into bedrock, and traveled thousands of kilometers.

• Bahram Vallis, as seen by HiRISE. Rotational landslides (slumps) are visible at the base of north wall.

• Maja Valles Streamlined Island, as seen by HiRISE. Island formed behind the impact crater at the lower right.

• Tyras Vallis Fan Deposit, as seen by HiRISE. Click on image to see layers.

• Tyras Vallis Fan Deposit at a different sun angle. The scale bar is 500 meters long. This image is just to the right of the previous image.

• Nanedi Valles, as seen by THEMIS.

• Nanedi Valles Close-up, as seen by THEMIS.

• Waters from Vedra Vallis, Maumee Vallis, and Maja Valles went from Lunae Planum on the left, to Chryse Planitia on the right. Image is located in Lunae Palus quadrangle and was taken by Viking Orbiter.