Martian Variety Exhibited by the Olympica Fossae

The Olympica Fossae are a collection of troughs and depressions located in northern Tharsis, south of the Alba Patera volcano. The Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera has been sending back unprecedented, spectacular views of this region. The Olympica Fossae are especially interesting because they show landforms that run the entire range of things seen elsewhere on Mars. This picture shows many examples, including layered outcrops in canyon walls, evenly-spaced dunes on the canyon floors, dark landslide streaks on the canyon walls, pits formed by ground collapse, and streamlined forms related to the flow of water, mud, or lava.

Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission. MSSS operates the camera from its facilities in San Diego, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Surveyor Operations Project operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.