Ma'adim Vallis
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Viking orbiter view of Ma'adim Vallis, with Gusev Crater outlet at top | |
| Coordinates | 21°48′S 182°42′W / 21.8°S 182.7°WCoordinates: 21°48′S 182°42′W / 21.8°S 182.7°W |
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| Length | 825.0 km |
| Naming | Word for "Mars" in Hebrew |
Ma'adim Vallis is one of the largest outflow channels on Mars, about 700 km long and significantly larger than Earth's Grand Canyon. It is over 20 km wide and 2 km deep in some places. It runs from a region of southern lowlands thought to have once contained a large group of lakes (see Eridania Lake) north to Gusev crater near the equator. It looks as if water may have collected in Gusev crater, forming a giant lake; the Spirit Rover was sent there to investigate that possibility, but found only volcanic rocks on the floor of Gusev. Any lake deposits were probably covered over by a later deposit of volcanic materials from Apollinaris Mons, a nearby volcano.
Ma'adim Vallis is thought to have been carved by flowing water early in Mars' history. Some of the short narrow channels along the walls of Ma'adim are probably sapping channels. Sapping occurs when groundwater partially dissolves and undermines the rock, which collapses into debris deposits and is carried away by other erosion processes.
Ma'adim (מאדים) is the Hebrew name of the Planet Mars.
Section of Ma'adim Vallis as seen by HiRISE. A more recent flow of water may have formed the smaller, deeper channel to the right.
