This scene is the floor of a trough in Noctis Labryinthus, a region of chaotic terrain located between the Tharsis Rise and Valles Marineris.

Its eastern extent leads into the start of Valles Marineris, a canyon that is about as wide as the continental United States. The trough has a depression which contains dunes and exposed layers. It is possible that the wind is sculpting out the depression and revealing the layers or it could be continued cracking and pulling apart of the ground.

These layers might be the same as those seen in the canyons of Valles Marineris; their origin is currently unresolved.

Written by: Kelly Kolb   (13 May 2008)

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_006745_1715

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona