logo with a red stylised head of Mars, the Roman god of war

A MAP for FINDING YOUR WAY around MARS

Map of Martian surface color coded to show altitudes above or below the zero

LONGITUDE in degrees E of zero reference point

Features of the Martian surface

  • low plains called planitiae (singular: planitia)
  • high plains and plateaus called plana (singular: planum)
  • mountains and volcanoes called montes (singular: mons)
  • canyons, chasms and valleys called valles (singular:vallis)
  • rough cratered areas called terrae (singular: terra)
  • dune fields (undae) shaped by the action of wind
  • ice caps at N and S poles containing water ice and dry ice
  • dust storms that can envelope the entire planet
  • dark/light spots on global Mars; called albedo features

Map shows the surface of Mars colour-coded for altitude above or below the zero-elevation level - highest areas are white/red, lowest are blue.

Highest point: Olympus Mons, 21 km above zero-elevation level; lowest point: Impact crater in Hellas Planitia, 8 km below zero-elevation level.

A GALLERY of MARTIAN FEATURES

Northern lowland plain (planitia) on Mars covered by red soil and rocks Image taken by a rover of a field of dunes View of global Mars showing the albedo feature known as Syrtis Major View of section of a massive system of canyons known as Valles Marineris View of an impact crater surounded by material ejected by the impact Rock strata exposed on the Martian surface

Information from orbiters and rovers over decades has revealed details of the surface of Mars. NASA/JPL has built this data into an interactive

program with many features, including locating surface features by name and measuring distances and altitudes.

CLICK here if you would like to access this program.