New Delhi, May 17: The mysteries of other planets, much like Earth, are filled with intrigue and excitement. The European Space Agency (ESA) has shed light on an ancient enigma of Mars. The agency shared images on social media revealing that approximately 3.5 billion years ago, water hidden beneath the Martian surface suddenly burst forth, causing a catastrophic flood.
This sudden release of underground water created a massive valley, measuring 10 kilometers wide and 500 meters deep. The flood was so powerful that it carved out a 1,300-kilometer-long channel known as the Shalbatana Valley, roughly equivalent in length to Italy.
New images captured by ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft provide a thrilling glimpse into this ancient event. The photos showcase the Martian surface shaped by water, lava, and time. They clearly depict numerous impact craters formed over time, along with patches of volcanic ash carried by winds and the twisted formations created by cooling lava. This chaotic landscape is situated between Mars’ southern highlands and northern lowlands, near the Cryse Planitia, recognized as the lowest region on Mars.
Scientists believe that this area may have once housed an ancient ocean. Mars Express has been orbiting Mars since 2003, gathering valuable information about the planet. NASA and the Italian Space Agency are also part of this mission.
One of the most crucial instruments onboard is the MARSIS radar, which detects water, ice, and other geological structures beneath the Martian surface. This discovery is vital for understanding the history of water on Mars.
Researchers suggest that Mars may have once been warm and humid, with rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans. However, as the climate changed, this water either dried up or retreated underground.
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