# List of Martian canals

This is an incomplete list of Martian canals from the erroneous belief in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that "Martian canals" existed on the surface of the red planet. These canals were named by Giovanni Schiaparelli and Percival Lowell, amongst others, after real and legendary rivers of various places on Earth or the mythological underworld. A partial list of names are provided below with the regions that the canals were thought to connect.

## A

| Name | Pronunciation | Locationˈ | Source of name |
| Acalandrus | /ˌækəˈlændrəs/ | | From a stream in Lucania, Italy, now called Calandro |
| Acampsis | /əˈkæmpsɪs/ | | From a river in Pontus that flowed into the Black Sea, now called Çoruh/Chorokhi |
| Acesines | /æsɪˈsaɪniːz/ | | From a Sicilian river, now called Cantara; also the name of Chenab, one of the rivers of the Punjab |
| Achana | /ˈækənə/ | | From a river in northern Arabia |
| Achates | /əˈkeɪtiːz/ | | From a Sicilian river now called the Drillo, in which agates were found |
| Acheloüs | /ˌækɪˈloʊəs/ | | From Achelous, a river in western Greece |
| Acheron | /ˈækərɒn/ | | From Acheron, both a real river in Epirus and a mythical river of Hades |
| Acis | /ˈeɪsɪs/ | | From a Sicilian river now called Fiume di Iaci |
| Aeacus | /ˈiːəkəs/ | N to S: runs through Cebrenia to the junction of Styx and Boreas canals | |
| Aeolus | /ˈiːoʊləs/ | | From Aeolus, keeper of the winds in Greek mythology |
| Aesis | /ˈiːsɪs/ | | From an Italian river, now called Fiumesino |
| Aethiops | /ˈiːθiɒps/ | | Means "the Ethiopian" |
| Agathodaemon | /ˌæɡəθoʊˈdiːmɒn/ | N to S: connects Tithonius Lacus to Aonius Sinus, opposite Protei Regio; just W of Aurea Cherso | Means "good spirit" |
| Alcyonius | /ˌælsiˈoʊniəs/ | | |
| Alpheus | /ælˈfiːəs/ | Runs NS through Hellas | From the river Alpheios in the Peloponnesus of Greece |
| Ambrosia | /æmˈbroʊʒiə/ | S to N: connects Solis Lacus with Bosphorus Gemmatus, running through Thaumasia | From ambrosia, the legendary food of the gods |
| Amenthes | /əˈmɛnθiːz/ | | |
| Amphrysus | /æmˈfraɪsəs/ | | From a Thessalian river, now called Armiro |
| Amystis | /əˈmɪstɪs/ | | From a river of India |
| Anapus | /əˈneɪpəs/ | | From an Acarnanian or Sicilian river |
| Anian | /ˈeɪniæn/ | | After the Strait of Anián, a mythical water passage in the American northwest |
| Antaeus | /ænˈtiːəs/ | NW to SE: from the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos canals to the Atlantis region | From Antaeus, son of Earth, a gigantic opponent of Heracles |
| Anubis | /əˈnjuːbɪs/ | | From the Egyptian god Anubis |
| Apis | /ˈeɪpɪs/ | | From the Egyptian god Apis |
| Araxes | /əˈræksiːz/ | E to W: connects Phoenicis Lacus with the E end of Mare Sirenum | From Araxes, a river in eastern Anatolia, northern Iran |
| Argaeus | /ɑːrˈdʒiːəs/ | Flows S from pole to junction of Pyramus and Pierius canals | |
| Arges | /ˈɑːrdʒiːz/ | | |
| Arnon | /ˈɑːrnɒn/ | N to S: connects Arethusa Lacus to Ismenius Lacus | From the small river Arnon now in the Kingdom of Jordan |
| Aroeris | | NE to SW: from "Copais Palus" to Ismenius Lacus | |
| Arosis | /ˈæroʊsɪs/ | | |
| Arsanias | /ɑːrˈseɪniæs/ | | From an Armenian river |
| Artanes | /ˈɑːrtəniːz/ | | |
| Ascanius | /æsˈkeɪniəs/ | | From the Trojan Ascanius, son of Aeneas |
| Asclepius | /æsˈkliːpiəs/ | | From the Greek deity of healing Asclepius |
| Asopus | /əˈsoʊpəs/ | | |
| Astaboras | /æsˈtæbɔːræs/ | E to W: connects Syrtis Major to Ismenius Lacus | From a name for the Atbarah river, a branch of the upper Nile |
| Astapus | /ˈæstəpəs/ | | From a name for the Blue Nile river |
| Astusapes | /æsˈtjuːsəpiːz/ | | From a name for the White Nile river |
| Atax | /ˈeɪtæks/ | | |
| Athesis | /ˈæθɪsɪs/ | | From the river Adige in Venezia |
| Athyr | /ˈeɪθɪər/ | | From a form of the name of the Egyptian goddess Hathor |
| Avernus | /əˈvɛərnəs/ | NE to SW: connects Ammonii Fons to the E end of Mare Cimmerium via Aquae Apollinaris | From Avernus, a river of Hades |
| Avus | /ˈeɪvəs/ | | |
| Axius | /ˈæksiəs/ | | |
| Axon | /ˈæksɒn/ | | |

## B-D

| Bactrus | /ˈbæktrəs/ | | From a river of Bactria |
| Baetis | /ˈbiːtɪs/ | | From the classical name of the Guadalquivir river |
| Bathys | /ˈbeɪθɪs/ | | From a river of Pontus |
| Bautis | /ˈbɔːtɪs/ | | |
| Belus | /ˈbiːləs/ | | |
| Boreas | /ˈbɔːriæs/ | E to W: connects Propontis to Anian canal | From Boreas, the Greek name for the North Wind |
| Boreosyrtis | /ˌbɔːrioʊˈsɪərtɪs/ | E to W in curve between Utopia and Dioscuria | |
| Brontes | /ˈbrɒntiːz/ | | |
| Cadmus | /ˈkædməs/ | | From the Greek hero Cadmus |
| Caicus | | | |
| Callirrhoë | /kəˈlɪroʊi/ | | Means "flowing beautifully" |
| Cambyses | | | |
| Cantabras | | | |
| Carpis | /ˈkɑːrpɪs/ | | |
| Casius | /ˈkeɪʒiəs/ | NW to SE: connects Copaïs Palus to Nodus Alcyonius | |
| Casuentus | /ˌkæzjuˈeɪntəs/ | | |
| Catarrhactes | /ˌkætəˈræktiːz/ | | |
| Caÿster | /keɪˈɪstər/ | | – |
| Cedron | /ˈsiːdrɒn/ | NW to SE; connects the Jaxartes canal to Arethusa Lacus | From the Brook of Cedron near Jerusalem |
| Centrites | | | |
| Cephissus | /sɪˈfɪsəs/ | | From any of several rivers in Greece called Cephissus |
| Ceraunius | /sɪəˈrɔːniəs/ | A broad canal, or pair of canals, running NS from Tharsis down to between Tempe and Arcadia | |
| Cerberus | /ˈsɛərbərəs/ | NE to SW: connects Trivium Charontis to the W end of Mare Cimmerium | From the name of the dog Cerberus that guards the gates of Hades |
| Cestrus | /ˈsɛstrəs/ | | |
| Chaboras | | | |
| Chretes | /ˈkriːtiːz/ | | |
| Choaspes | /koʊˈæspiːz/ | | From Choaspes, a river of Susiana, Persia |
| Chrysas | /ˈkraɪsæs/ | | |
| Chrysorrhoas | /kraɪˈsɒroʊæs/ | N to S: connects Lunae Lacus to Tithonius Lacus | Means "flowing with gold" |
| Cinyphus | | | |
| Clitumnus | /klaɪˈtʌmnəs/ | | |
| Clodianus | /ˌklɒdiˈeɪnəs/ | | |
| Cocytus | /koʊˈsaɪtəs/ | | Named for Cocytus, a mythical river of Hades |
| Cophen | /ˈkoʊfɛn/ | | |
| Coprates | | | |
| Corax | /ˈkɔːræks/ | | |
| Cyaneus | /saɪˈeɪniəs/ | | |
| Cyclops | /ˈsaɪklɒps/ | Southern continuation of Galaxias canal, running from the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos to Mare Cimmerium | Named for the one-eyed monster Cyclops of Greek myth |
| Cydnus | /ˈsɪdnəs/ | | |
| Cyrus | /ˈsaɪrəs/ | | |
| Daemon | /ˈdiːmɒn/ | | |
| Daix | | | |
| Daradax | | | |
| Dardanus | /ˈdɑːrdənəs/ | E to W: connects Niliacus Lacus to Ceraunius canal | |
| Dargamenes | | | |
| Deuteronilus | /ˌdjuːtəroʊˈnaɪləs/ | E to W: connects Ismenius Lacus to Niliacus Lacus via Dirce Fons | Means 'Second Nile' |
| Digentia | /daɪˈdʒɛnʃiə/ | | |
| Dosaron | | | |
| Drahonus | | | |

## E-F

| Elison | | | |
| Eosphoros | /iˈɒsfɔːrɒs/ | NW to SE: connects Phoenicis Lacus to Solis Lacus | Means "bringer of dawn" |
| Erannoboas | /ˌɛrəˈnɒboʊæs/ | | A river of India |
| Erebus | /ˈɛrɪbəs/ | | From Erebus, a name for the Underworld |
| Erigone | /ɪəˈrɪɡoʊni/ | | |
| Erinaeus | /ˌɛrɪˈniːəs/ | | |
| Erinnys | /ɪəˈrɪnɪs/ | E to W: connects the W end of Mare Sirenum to Titanum Sinus in Memnonia | From the mythical Erinyes |
| Erymanthus | /ˌɛrɪˈmænθəs/ | | |
| Eulaeus | /juːˈliːəs/ | | |
| Eumenides | /juːˈmɛnɪdiːz/ | NW to SE: the SE continuation of Orcus canal, from Nodus Gordii to Phoenicis Lacus | From another name for the Erinyes |
| Eunostos | /juːˈnɒstɒs/ | | |
| Euphrates | /juːˈfreɪtiːz/ | N to S: connects Sinus Sabaeus to Ismenius Lacus | From the river Euphrates in Mesopotamia, one of the four rivers of the Garden of Eden |
| Euripus | /jʊəˈraɪpəs/ | SE to NW, connects Mare Tyrrhenum and Mare Hadriaticum, running through Ausonia | After the strait between Euboea and Boeotia |
| Eurotas | /jʊəˈroʊtæs/ | | After the river Eurotas in Greece |
| Eurymedon | /jʊəˈrɪmɪdɒn/ | | |
| Eurypus | /ˈjʊərɪpəs/ | | |
| Evenus | /ɪˈviːnəs/ | | aka Euenus /juˈiːnəs/ |
| Feuos | /ˈfjuːɒs/ | | aka Fevos [ ˈfivɒs ] |
| Fortunae | /fɔːrˈtjuːni/ | | Means "of Fortune" |

## G-H

| Gaesus | /ˈdʒiːsəs/ | | |
| Galaesus | /ɡəˈliːsəs/ | | |
| Galaxias | /ɡəˈlæksiæs/ | N to S: from Anian to the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos S of Elysium | |
| Ganges | /ˈɡændʒiːz/ | N to S: connects Lunae Lacus to Aurorae Sinus | From the Ganges, a river of India |
| Ganymede | /ˈɡænɪmiːd/ | | From Ganymede, the cupbearer of Zeus |
| Garrhuenus | | | |
| Gehon | /ˈdʒiːɒn/ | N to S: connects Mare Acidalium to the W end of Sinus Sabaeus | From Gihon, one of the four rivers of Eden Also spelled Gihon [ ˈdʒajɒn ] |
| Gigas | /ˈdʒaɪɡæs/ | NE to SW: connects Ascraeus Lacus to Titanum Sinus via Lucus Maricae | From the mythical monsters called Gigantes |
| Glaucus | /ˈɡlɔːkəs/ | | |
| Gorgon | /ˈɡɔːrɡɒn/ | Connects Mare Sirenum and the Eumenides canal near Nodus Gordii | From the mythical monster Gorgon |
| Gyes | /ˈdʒaɪiːz/ | | |
| Gyndes | /ˈdʒɪndiːz/ | | From a river flowing into the Tigris |
| Hades | /ˈheɪdiːz/ | N to S: connects Trivium Charontis and Propontis | From the Greek name for the Underworld and its ruling deity, Hades |
| Halys | /heɪlɪs/ | | |
| Harpasus | | | |
| Hebe | /ˈhiːbi/ | | |
| Hebrus | /ˈhiːbrəs/ | | |
| Heliconius | /ˌhɛlɪˈkoʊniəs/ | E to W: connects Sithonius Lacus to Copaïs Palus | |
| Helisson | /hɪˈlɪsɒn/ | | |
| Hephaestus | /hɪˈfɛstəs/ | | From the god Hephaestus |
| Heratemis | | | |
| Hiddekel | /ˈhɪdɪkɛl/ | NE to SW: connects Ismenius Lacus to Fastigium Aryn at the western end of Sinus Sabaeus | From the Hebrew name for the Tigris, a river of Mesopotamia and one of the four rivers of Eden |
| Hipparis | | | |
| Hippus | /ˈhɪpəs/ | | |
| Hyblaeus | /hɪˈbliːəs/ | NE to SW: connects Anian canal to Hephaestus canal | |
| Hyctanis | | | |
| Hydaspes | /haɪˈdæspiːz/ | | From the Greek name for the Jhelum river of India |
| Hydraotes | /ˌhɪdreɪˈoʊtiːz/ | SE to NW; connects Margaritifer Sinus to Lunae Lacus | After the Greek name for the Ravi river of India |
| Hydriacus | | | |
| Hylias | | | |
| Hyllus | /ˈhɪləs/ | | |
| Hyphasis | | | |
| Hypsas | /ˈhɪpsəs/ | | |
| Hyscus | /ˈhɪskəs/ | | |

## I-M

| Idalius | /aɪˈdeɪliəs/ | | |
| Ilissus | /aɪˈlɪsəs/ | | |
| Indus | /ˈɪndəs/ | N to S: connects Niliacus Lacus to Margaritifer Sinus | From the Indus, a river of India |
| Iris | /ˈaɪərɪs/ | N to S: connects Phoenicis Lacus to Ceraunius canal | Named for the goddess of the rainbow Iris |
| Isis | /ˈaɪsɪs/ | | From the Egyptian goddess Isis |
| Issedon | /ˈɪsɪdɒn/ | | |
| Jamuna | /ˈdʒæmjuːnə/ | N to S; connects Niliacus Lacus to Aurorae Sinus | From the Yamuna or Jumna, a river of India |
| Jaxartes | /dʒækˈsɑːrtiːz/ | | From an old name for the Syr Darya, a river of Transoxiana |
| Jordanis | /dʒɔːrˈdeɪnɪs/ | | From the river Jordan in the Holy Land |
| Kison | /ˈkaɪsɒn/ | | |
| Labotas | | | |
| Laestrygon | /lɛsˈtraɪɡɒn/ | N to S: connects Trivium Charontis to Mare Cimmerium | |
| Leontes | /liˈɒntiːz/ | | |
| Lethes | /ˈliːθiːz/ | N to S: connects Hephaestus canal to Syrtis Minor | From Lethe, a mythical river of Hades |
| Liris | /ˈlaɪərɪs/ | | |
| Maeander | /miˈændər/ | | |
| Magon | /ˈmeɪɡɒn/ | | |
| Malva | /ˈmælvə/ | | From the river Malua in Mauretania |
| Margus | /ˈmɑːrɡəs/ | | |
| Medus | /ˈmiːdəs/ | | |
| Medusa | /mɪˈdjuːsə/ | | From the mythical monster Medusa |
| Mogrus | /ˈmoʊɡrəs/ | | |

## N–O

| Nectar | /ˈnɛktɑːr/ | Runs E from Solis Lacus to Nectaris Fons (near Protei Regio) | From nectar, the legendary drink of the gods |
| Neda | /ˈniːdə/ | | A river of the Peloponnesus |
| Nepenthes | /nɪˈpɛnθiːz/ | NE to SW: from junction of Thoth and Triton canals to Syrtis Major via Lacus Moeris | |
| Nereides | /nɪəˈriːədiːz/ | | From the nymphs called Nereids |
| Nestus | /ˈnɛstəs/ | | A river of Thrace |
| Neudrus | /ˈnjuːdrəs/ | | A river of India |
| Nilokeras | /naɪˈlɒkɪræs/ | E to W: connects Niliacus Lacus with Lunae Lacus | Means "horn of the Nile" |
| Nilosyrtis | /ˌnɪloʊˈsɪərtɪs/ | A broad canallike feature, running N from the tip of Syrtis Major to Coloë Palus | |
| Nilus | /ˈnaɪləs/ | | From the Nile, the river of Egypt |
| Nymphaeus | /nɪmˈfiːəs/ | | A river of Armenia |
| Oceanus | /oʊˈsiːənəs/ | | From Oceanus, a mythical river surrounding the world and the Titan who shared its name |
| Ochus | /ˈoʊkəs/ | | A river of Bactriana |
| Opharus | /ˈɒfərəs/ | | A river of Sarmatia |
| Orcus | /ˈɔːrkəs/ | NW to SE: connects Trivium Charontis to Nodus Gordii, where it turns into Eumenides canal | From Orcus, a synonym of Hades |
| Orontes | /oʊˈrɒntiːz/ | E to SW: connects Serbonis Palus to Sabaeus Sinus | From the Orontes, a river of Syria |
| Orosines | | | |
| Oxus | /ˈɒksəs/ | NE to SW: connects the Deuteronilus and the Indus canals | From an old name for the Amu Darya, a river of Central Asia |

## P-R

| Pactolus | /pækˈtoʊləs/ | | From the river Pactolus in Anatolia |
| Padargus | /pəˈdɑːrɡəs/ | | |
| Palamnus | /pəˈlæmnəs/ | | |
| Parcae | /ˈpɑːrsi/ | | |
| Peneus | /pɪˈniːəs/ | Runs EW through Hellas | From the Peneios river in the Peloponnesus of Greece |
| Permessus | /pɛərˈmɛsəs/ | | |
| Pierius | /paɪˈɪəriəs/ | E to W: connects Copaïs Palus and Arethusa Lacus | |
| Phasis | /ˈfeɪsɪs/ | N to S: connects Phoenicis Lacus and Aonius Sinus | |
| Phison | /ˈfaɪsɒn/ | N to S: connects Coloë Palus to Sinus Sabaeus | From Pishon, one of the four rivers of Eden |
| Phlegethon | /ˈflɛdʒɪθɒn/ | | From the Phlegethon, a mythical river of Hades |
| Protonilus | /ˌprɒtoʊˈnaɪləs/ | E to W: connects Coloë Palus and Ismenius Lacus | Means "first Nile" |
| Psychrus | /ˈsaɪkrəs/ | | |
| Pyramus | /ˈpɪrəməs/ | S from pole via Copaïs Palus to junction of Boreosyrtis and Cadmus canals | |
| Pyriphlegethon | /ˌpɪrɪˈflɛdʒɪθɒn/ | NW to SE: connecting Propontis and Lacus Phoenicis | From Pyriphlegethon ("fiery Phlegethon"), a mythical river of Hades |
| Python | /ˈpaɪθɒn/ | | From the monster Python which Apollo killed |
| Rha | /ˈreɪ/ | | From a classical name for the river Volga |
| Rhyndacus | /ˈrɪndəkəs/ | | From the classical river Rhyndacus in Anatolia |

## S-X

| Scamander | /skəˈmændər/ | S to N from Mare Chronium to Mare Cimmerium, between Electris and Eridania | From the river Scamander in the Troad |
| Sesamus | /ˈsɛsəməs/ | | From a Paphlagonian river |
| Simoïs | /ˈsɪmoʊɪs/ | S to N from Mare Chronium to Mare Cimmerium between Phaëthontis and Electris | From the river Simoïs in the Troad |
| Sirenius | /saɪˈriːniəs/ | N to S: connects the Tanais canal near Nerigos with the E end of Mare Sirenum | Means "of the Sirens |
| Siris | /ˈsaɪərɪs/ | | From an Italian river in Lucania |
| Sitacus | /ˈsɪtəkəs/ | NE to SW: connects Coloë Palus to Fastigium Aryn | From the name of a river in Persis |
| Steropes | /ˈstɛroʊpiːz/ | | From the name of a Cyclops |
| Styx | /ˈstɪks/ | | From the mythical river Styx in Hades |
| Surius | /ˈsjʊəriəs/ | | From a river of Colchis |
| Tanaïs | /ˈtæneɪ.ɪs/ | | From Tanais, an old name for the river Don in Sarmatia |
| Tantalus | /ˈtæntələs/ | | From Tantalus, a mythical king imprisoned in Hades |
| Tartarus | /ˈtɑːrtərəs/ | N to S: connects Trivium Charontis to Titanum Sinus | From Tartarus, a name for the Underworld |
| Tedanius | /tɪˈdeɪniəs/ | | From an Illyrian river |
| Thermodon | /θɛərˈmoʊdɒn/ | | |
| Thoth | /ˈθɒθ/ | | From the name of the Egyptian god Thoth |
| Thyanis | /ˈθaɪənɪs/ | | Possibly an error for Thyamus, the name of a river of Epirus |
| Titan | /ˈtaɪtən/ | | From the Titans, the relatives and opponents of the gods |
| Tithonius | /taɪˈθoʊniəs/ | | |
| Triton | /ˈtraɪtɒn/ | NW to SE: connects Nepenthes canal to the W end of Mare Cimmerium | From the seadeity Triton |
| Tyndis | /ˈtɪndɪs/ | | |
| Typhon | /ˈtaɪfɒn/ | E to W: connects Deltoton Sinus to Sirbonis Palus | |
| Typhonius | /taɪˈfoʊniəs/ | | |
| Ulysses | /juːˈlɪsiːz/ | | From Ulysses, the Roman name for Odysseus |
| Uranius | /jʊəˈreɪniəs/ | E to W: connects Lunae Lacus to Ascraeus Lacus | |
| Xanthus | /ˈzænθəs/ | N to S: connects Mare Tyrrhenum to Promethei Sinus, between Eridania and Ausonia | Means "yellow" |
| Xenius | /ˈziːniəs/ | NE to SW: connects Arethusa Lacus to Dirce Fons | |

## Sources

* Percival Lowell (11 January 2019). Mars and Its Canals: Classic RePrint. Forgotten Books. ISBN 978-1440039843.
* Percival Lowell (1 January 1908). Mars and Its Canals. The Macmillan Company. ASIN B006X59J1M.