Venus Global Geography

This is a map of the surface of Venus (turned sideways!). As can be seen on the map, there is no ocean, but there are highlands and lowlands. Lowlands in the map can be thought of as like the ocean bottom, and highlands can be thought of as like continental regions.

As can be seen in the image, besides the lowlands, the surface of Venus consists of 2 large continents with mountain ranges, and a few large islands. There is also extensive cratering, mixed with evidence of flowing liquid.

There does not seem to be much evidence of continental drift as is seen on Earth. Even so, the surface of Venus is very unusual and shows many of the features of a surface in motion.

Compare this active surface with that of Earth, Mars, or Europa.


Last modified May 19, 2009 by Randy Russell.

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