There are blocks of layered terrain within the Olympus Mons aureole. The aureole is a giant apron of chaotic material around the volcano, perhaps formed by enormous landslides off the flanks of the giant volcano.

These blocks of layered material have been eroded by the wind into the scenic landscape we see here .

Written by: Alfred McEwen (audio: Tre Gibbs)  (22 January 2018)

This is a stereo pair with ESP_013049_1980 .

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_012548_1980

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona