MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-448, 10 August 2003

The heavily cratered terrains of Mars bear the scars of many, ancient valley systems and networks. When these were first seen in images from Mariner 9 more than 30 years ago, most investigators working on the topic concluded that the valleys must have formed by running water. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a somewhat meandered portion of Scamander Vallis, located in central Arabia Terra near 16.9°N, 331.5°W. The valley today is quite dry and the entire area--valley, craters, and surrounding terrain--are covered by an almost uniform blanket of dust. Dark streaks on the slopes are formed by small avalanches of dust. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the right.