Sand dunes cover much of this terrain, which has large boulders lying on flat areas between the dunes.

It is now late winter here in the Southern hemisphere, and these dunes are just getting enough sunlight to start defrosting their seasonal cover of carbon dioxide. Spots form where pressurized carbon dioxide gas escapes to the surface .

This is part of a stereo pair, so be sure to look at the stereo anaglyph .

Written by: Alfred McEwen (audio: Tre Gibbs)   (18 May 2016)

This is a stereo pair with ESP_045245_1205 .

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_045311_1205

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona