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Valles Marineris
is the largest canyon system in the Solar System |
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It
was named in honor of the Mariner missions: Mariner 9 was the first
spacecraft to image this magnificent canyon system. |
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Valles Marineris
is actually a system of several interconnected canyons, each with
different names and distinctive features. |
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Valles Marineris
is 2500 miles (4000 km) long, 310 miles (500 km) wide by 4.3 miles
(7 km) deep |
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From end to
end, Valles Marineris runs 20%, or 1/5, of the entire distance around
Mars. |
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If this canyon
system existed on Earth, it would stretch from San Francisco to
Boston: essentially the entire length of the U.S. |
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Valles
Marineris is nearly 10 times as long and wide,
and 3 times as deep as compared to the Grand
Canyon in Arizona. |
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Valles
Marineris was not carved by running water –
it is a gigantic fracture in Mars’ crust.
Pulling apart of the surface formed the main
portion of the canyon system. Massive landslides
are also present in the canyons.
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