Lethe Vallis

Lethe Vallis is a valley in the Elysium Planitia on Mars, located at 4° North and 206.5° West. It is 225 km long and is named after river Lethe in Katmai National Monument, Alaska, USA.[1] Lethe Vallis originates at the SE margin of the West Elysium Basin (Cerberus Palus). West Elysium Basin probably contained a lake that was 500 km across and received water from Athabasca Vallis. It was probably formed in just days or weeks and had a discharge about like the Mississippi. Some have suggested it was formed from lava flows, but lava would not be able to flow over such a low gradient for so long a distance.[2]

Lethe Vallis
Lethe Vallis, as seen by HiRISE. Flow was from southwest to northeast. Wider part of Lethe Vallis had less erosive power, so mesas are left behind from pre-existing material. Scale bar is 500 meters long.
Coordinates4°N 206.5°W / 4; -206.5

References
  1. "Lethe Vallis". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. Balme M. R.; et al. (2011). "Fill and spill in Lethe Vallis: a recent flood-routing system in Elysium Planitia, Mars". In M. R. Balme; A. S. Bargery; C. J. Gallagher; S. Gupta (eds.). Martian Geomorphology. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol. 356, issue 1. MPG Books. pp. 203–227. Bibcode:2011GSLSP.356..203B. doi:10.1144/SP356.11. ISBN 9781862393301.


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