Tractus Fossae

Tractus Fossae

Error creating thumbnail: File with dimensions greater than 25 MP Tractus Fossae based on THEMIS day-time image
Coordinates
Naming	a classical albedo feature name

Tractus Fossae is a trough in the Tharsis quadrangle of Mars, located at 26° north latitude and 101.4° west longitude. It is 390 km (240 mi) long and is named after a classical albedo feature name. The name "Fossae" is used to indicate large troughs when using geographical terminology related to Mars. Troughs, sometimes also called a graben, form when the crust is stretched until it breaks, which forms two breaks with a middle section moving down, leaving steep cliffs along the sides. Sometimes, a line of pits form as materials collapse into a void that forms from the stretching.

Trough in Tractus Fossae caused by faults and resulting collapse of material into faults forming a chain of pits, as seen by Mars Global Surveyor.  Tractus Fossae Ringed Pit, as seen by HiRISE. Scale bar is 1000 meters long.