A vast valley on Mars offers new evidence that the planet once held large bodies of water. Shalbatana Vallis stretches about 1,300 kilometers near the equator and shows signs of powerful groundwater floods from billions of years ago.
The European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft captured fresh images of the northern section of the valley. These views highlight deep channels carved by ancient floods, collapsed terrain, and deposits of volcanic ash. The main channel measures around 10 kilometers wide and up to 500 meters deep in places.