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 Viking orbiter view of Maʼadim Vallis, withGusev Crater outlet at top | |
| Coordinates | 21°48′S182°42′W / 21.8°S 182.7°W /-21.8; -182.7 |
|---|---|
| Length | 825 km |
| Naming | Word for "Mars" in Hebrew |
Maʼadim Vallis is one of the largestoutflow channels onMars, about 700 km long and significantly larger thanEarth'sGrand Canyon. It is over 20 km wide and 2 km deep in some places.[1] It runs from a region of southern lowlands thought to have once contained a large group oflakes (seeEridania Lake) north toGusev crater near the equator. It looks as if water may have collected in Gusev crater, forming a giant lake; theSpirit Rover was sent there to investigate that possibility, but found only volcanic rocks on the floor of Gusev.[2] Any lake deposits were probably covered over by a later deposit of volcanic materials fromApollinaris Mons, a nearbyvolcano.
Maʼadim Vallis is in theAeolis quadrangle.[3]
Maʼadim Vallis is thought to have been carved by flowing water early in Mars' history. Some of the short narrow channels along the walls of Maʼadim are probablysapping channels.Sapping occurs whengroundwater partially dissolves and undermines the rock, which collapses into debris deposits and is carried away by other erosion processes.
Maʼadim (מאדים) is theHebrew name of the Planet Mars.
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