Claritas Fossae, Mars
click to enlarge |
This image was originally released July 13, 2011. Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona |
Mars’ Claritas Fossae region is characterized by systems of “graben” running mainly north-west to south-east. A graben forms when a block of the planet’s crust drops down between two faults, due to extension, or pulling, of the crust.