 Topographic map ofAmazonis Planitia.
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| Coordinates | 24°48′N196°00′E / 24.8°N 196.0°E /24.8; 196.0 |
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AmazonisPlanitia (/əˈmæzənɪspləˈnɪʃiə/, LatinAmāzŏnis) is one of the smoothest plains onMars. It is located between theTharsis andElysium volcanic provinces, to the west ofOlympus Mons, in theAmazonis andMemnonia quadrangles, centered at24°48′N196°00′E / 24.8°N 196.0°E /24.8; 196.0. The plain's topography exhibits extremely smooth features at several different lengths of scale.[1] A large part of theMedusae Fossae Formation lies in Amazonis Planitia.
Its name derives from one of theclassical albedo features observed by early astronomers, which was in turn named after theAmazons, a mythical race of warrior women.
Only approximately 100 million years old, these plains provide some of the fewestsedimentary layers impeding viewing of the Martian terrain, and closely resemble the composition ofIceland. Formed by free-flowinglava across great plains, Amazonis has been described byWilliam Hartmann as a "bright dusty volcanic desert crossed by many fresh-looking lava flows."[2]
Amazonis has become the primary focus of modern research efforts both because of its geological composition and because of its relative youth compared to other Martian regions, which are often hundreds of millions of years older.[3] Hartmann writes that the plain closely resembles Iceland's surface, with its "strange cobweb-like networks of ridges and crags [on both planets, divide] smoother areas into a pattern something like fragments of a broken plate." Both land masses' shapes have been formed by lava flows from volcanic eruptions, causing both surfaces to be covered by a thick layer of hardened lava. Findings from aerial footage of both Amazonis and Iceland have shown nearly identical terrain patterns, signifying the comparative ages of the two regions.[4]
The entire contemporary era on Mars has been named theAmazonian Epoch because researchers originally believed Amazonis Planitia to be representative of all Martian plains. Instead, over the past two decades, researchers have realized that the area's youth and smooth surface distinguish the area from its neighbors.[5]
Although the full implications of Amazonis's youth have not yet been determined, the nature of the area (i.e. lack of sedimentary rock) has at least provided researchers evidence that the areas are the most likely to provide future discoveries, and as such, has been proposed as a future site for most NASA landings.[6]
