Channels beginning at the margins of chaotic terrain extend northeastward onto Chryse Planitia, the region in which Viking Lander 1 is located. The relationship between Valles Marineris and the chaos is not well understood. Irregular collapse, to form the chaos, may reflect crustal stresses similar to those forming the rift valleys, but differing in orientation and complexity. It is possible that the chaos formed during the catastrophic release of liquid water derived from artesian reservoirs or the melting of ground ice. The image is about 1500 km across.
North is to the top of the image.