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Walls of Candor Chasma 
These images, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, show Candor Chasma - one of the largest canyons in the Valles Marineris canyon system.
Traces of erosion can be observed at the canyon walls, which are similar to erosional features observed on Earth in arid or alpine regions.
The high-standing plateaus, which have an elevation of approximately six kilometres, have a very flat surface and most likely consist of several layers of basaltic lava.
It is also thought that Valles Marineris could be a possible ‘rift’, which occurs when tensional fractures go deeper than the relatively elastic lithosphere (or crust).
An alternative theory about the formation of the canyon system is the removal of rock from the subsurface material, as a result of water activity, and subsequent collapse of the surface. This process is analogous to the formation of terrestrial ‘karst’ landscapes.
As a result, the surface collapsed where substantial amounts of ice were removed, forming the Valles Marineris system as we see it today.
The colour images were processed using the HRSC nadir (vertical view) and three colour channels. The perspective views were calculated from the digital terrain model derived from the stereo channels.
For more information on Mars Express HRSC images, you might like to read our updated 'Frequently Asked Questions'.
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