A vertical plan view of the western runout of Aurorae Chaos
A vertical plan view of the western runout of Aurorae Chaos
Numerous interesting landscape features can be identified in this true colour plan view of Aurorae Chaos, which represents an area of about 180 north to south by 100 kilometres east to west (north is on the right). The centre of the image is dominated by the enclosed basin of Aurorae Chaos, which is situated more than three thousand metres lower than the surrounding area. Illustrative examples of a typical 'chaotic terrain' that can be found on Mars are visible on the left half of the image. It is believed that chaotic regions are formed when subsurface ice reservoirs melt due to heat and are suddenly released. If the water drains away, the surface falls over the newly created cavities and the landscape collapses into itself. Aurorae Chaos continues another several hundred kilometres further to the east. Enormous quantities of water must once have flowed towards the northern lowlands through Aurorae Chaos and over the adjacent regions of Hydraotes Chaos and Chryse Chaos.