Map of Coloe Fossae in context
This image shows the Coloe Fossae region of Mars in wider context. It shows the divide between the northern lowlands and southern highlands of Mars. This divide wraps around the entire planet; in some places it’s marked by a sharp, two-kilometre-high cliff-face, while in others – such as here – it’s more of a broad, broken-up transitional zone (known as Protonilus Mensae). The blue area covering the upper half of the frame is the start of lowlands, which cover much of the northern hemisphere. The yellow-orange area below is the start of highlands, which cover the southern hemisphere.
The area outlined by the larger white box indicates the area imaged by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) aboard ESA’s Mars Express orbiter on 19 October 2024 (orbit 26257), while the smaller white box within shows the part of the surface featured in new images released in November 2025.
[Image description: A colour-coded topographic map of a region on Mars called Coloe Fossae. It shows elevation differences using shades of green, blue, and orange: blue areas represent lower terrain, while orange and brown indicate higher ground. Several labelled regions and craters are visible, including Utopia Planitia at the top and Terra Sabaea at the bottom. A white rectangular box marks a specific area of interest within the map.]
