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Explanation: What created these white ridges on Mars? The images showing the white ridges, including some of the highest resolution images ever taken from Martian orbit, were recorded last year by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). A current leading hypothesis is that the white ridges formed as water flowed through underground cracks and bleached and hardened the edges of surrounding rocks. Over millions of years, surface winds eroded the darker rock leaving the raised white ridges. Such water-created light-colored markings are well known here on Earth. The hypothesis is particularly interesting as underground water could have helped to support microbial life on the red world. The above image resolves surface features as small as one meter across in Candor Chasma region of huge Valles Marineris on Mars.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
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& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: water
Publications with words: water
See also:
- APOD: 2025 October 12 Á All the Water on Europa
- APOD: 2025 September 7 Á All the Water on Planet Earth
- All the Water on Planet Earth
- Seasonal Streaks Point to Recent Flowing Water on Mars
- Galileo s Europa Remastered
- NGC 7841: The Smoke Nebula in Frustriaus
- Extrasolar Super Earth Gliese 1214b Might Hold Water