This is an image showing a Martian outflow channel.
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Image from: NASA

Martian Outflow Channels

On Mars there are the remains of many tear-drop shaped lakes such as the one shown in this image. Most of these are found near the Martian volcanoes. They are really channels where water once gushed forth. They seem to start from a hole in the ground, and whatever came out of the ground came out very fast. Mars Pathfinder landed on a channel such as this called Ares Vallis.

Scientists think that these lakes were formed when water near the surface erupted out of the ground. There is no water left in these lakes today.


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