Click on image for full size (144K GIF) Image Courtesy of NASA

The uniquely red global surface of Mars is marked by many interesting features - some like those on the Earth and others strangely different. The reddish color is caused by rust (iron oxide) in the soil.

Some of these features are; volcanoes, canyon systems, river beds, cratered terrain, and dune fields.

Of these features, the most interesting include the dead volcano named Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris. Olympus Mons rises very high above the surrounding plains and is the highest known mountain in the Solar System. Valles Marineris is a giant canyon that is about the size of the United States!

Click on image for full size (144K GIF) Image Courtesy of NASA

The uniquely red global surface of Mars is marked by many interesting features - some like those on the Earth and others strangely different. The reddish color is caused by rust (iron oxide) in the soil.

Some of these features are; volcanoes, canyon systems, river beds, cratered terrain, and dune fields.

Of these features, the most interesting includes the apparently dead volcano Olympus Mons, which rises 23 km (~75,000 ft) above the surrounding plains and is the highest known peak in the Solar System. Valles Marineris is a giant canyon system that runs about 2,500 miles across the surface of the planet and reaches depths of 6 km or 4 miles (for comparison, the Grand Canyon is not more than 1 mile deep).

Click on image for full size (144K GIF) Image Courtesy of NASA

The uniquely red global surface of Mars is marked by many interesting features - some like those on the Earth and others strangely different. The reddish color is caused by rust (iron oxide) in the soil.

Some of these features are; volcanoes, canyon systems, river beds, cratered terrain, and dune fields.

Of these features, the most interesting includes the apparently dead volcano Olympus Mons, which rises 23 km (~75,000 ft) above the surrounding plains and is the highest known peak in the Solar System. Valles Marineris is a giant canyon system that runs about 2,500 miles across the surface of the planet and reaches depths of 6 km or 4 miles (for comparison, the Grand Canyon is not more than 1 mile deep).