May 16, Kathmandu – The European Space Agency’s Mars Express mission has released an image of a vast valley near the Martian equator, revealing significant insights into the red planet’s aquatic and volcanic history. The approximately 1,300-kilometer-long Shalbatana Valley provides strong evidence that Mars once experienced massive flooding and harbored an ocean billions of years ago, scientists say.
According to researchers, the valley was formed about 3.5 billion years ago by a catastrophic flood, which occurred when subsurface water abruptly burst onto the surface. The valley spans roughly 10 kilometers in width and exceeds 500 meters in depth. The presence of deep canyons and meandering water-formed patterns strongly indicates that the Martian environment was once much warmer and more humid than it is today.
The newly captured image from the spacecraft reveals a geological formation known as the “Keotic Terrain.” It is believed this feature was created when melting subsurface ice caused surface collapse. Portions of the valley display black and blue deposits, which scientists interpret as volcanic ash that later accumulated due to Martian winds.
Flat plains shaped by lava flows from ancient volcanoes and old impact craters are also clearly visible in the area. The Shalbatana Valley terminates in a region called “Chryse Planitia,” one of the lowest areas on Mars. Many ancient waterways converge here, leading scientists to infer that a vast ocean may have existed at this site. Confirmation of this would mark a major advancement in the ongoing search for potential past life on Mars.
Launched in 2003, the Mars Express spacecraft has been closely monitoring the Martian surface for two decades. The high-resolution stereo camera aboard the spacecraft has provided essential data, greatly aiding global scientific efforts to understand Mars’ geological evolution.
