 Tractus Fossae based onTHEMIS day-time image | |
| Coordinates | 26°00′N101°24′W / 26°N 101.4°W /26; -101.4 |
|---|---|
| Naming | a classical albedo feature name |
TheTractus Fossae are a set of troughs in theTharsis quadrangle of Mars, located at 26° north latitude and 101.4° west longitude. They are 390 km (240 mi) long and are named after a classical albedo feature name.[1] The term "fossae" is used to indicate large troughs when using geographical terminology related to Mars. Troughs, sometimes also calledgrabens, form when the crust is stretched until it breaks, which forms two breaks with a middle section moving down, leaving steep cliffs along the sides. Sometimes, a line of pits form as materials collapse into a void that forms from the stretching.[2]
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