The
top half is dominated by the Tharsis Montes volcanoes, the large
Alba Patera shield volcano, the dark Chryse basin, and a vast canyon
system, Valles Marineris. In the central part, a prominent physiographic
feature, Thaumasia plateau, includes a complex array of small- and
large-scale faults and ridges and ancient volcanoes. The large conspicuous
Argyre basin, southeast of the Thaumasia plateau, contains a broad
expanse of light-colored plains 800 km across. The permanent south
polar ice cap is located near the bottom.
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