page_title: Mapping of Venus
section_title: Mountain belts (mb)
hierarchical_section_title: Mapping of Venus / Unit classification and mapping schemes / Stratigraphic classification scheme / Stratigraphic units / Tectonic units / Mountain belts (mb)
caption_attribution_description: English: This perspective view of Ishtar Terra was derived from data obtained by the Pioneer Venus spacecraft's altimetry radar instrument. Ishtar viewed from the west (bottom of image) is centered at about 65 degrees north latitude and 0 degrees longitude. Ishtar (approximately equal in size to Australia) is a large plateau standing 3.3 km above the surrounding lowlands, bounded by relatively steep slopes. Rising above this plateau are three massifs: Akna Montes and Freyja Montes along the western and northwestern edge of Lakshmi Planum, and Maxwell Montes along its eastern edge. The eastern part of Ishtar, east of Maxwell, is a complex hilly terrain ~1 km lower than Lakshmi Planum that lacks the steep well-defined boundary slopes that characterize the plateau. Maxwell Montes, highest point on the planet is elevated more than 10 km (32,000 ft) above the surrounding lowlands. Color-coded altimetry shows elevations in .5 and 1 km intervals. Cool colors mark low elevations and warm colors mark high elevations
context_page_description: The mapping of Venus refers to the process and results of human description of the geological features of the planet Venus. It involves surface radar images of Venus, construction of geological maps, and the identification of stratigraphic units, volumes of rock with a similar age.
  Satellite radar provides imagery of the surface morphology by using the physical properties of wave reflection. Long wavelength microwaves are used to penetrate the thick, cloudy atmosphere of Venus and reach to the surface. Different surface features reflect waves with different strengths of signal, producing images from which the maps are constructed.
  After collection of the images of the Venusian surface, scientists started to map and identify different geologic materials and units according to distinctive surface features. Different groups of scientists analysed different mapping areas, schemes and interpretation of features observed, to produce a classification of the units and comparison of their mapping.
context_section_description: The mountain belts unit is the only real mountain range on Venus in the area surrounding Lakshmi Planum, which covers only 1.3 x 10⁶ km² of the Venusian global surface, while  involves structural deformation of different materials in their formation. There are in total four major mountain belts mapped on Venus, including the belts of Danu Montes, Akna Montes, Freyje Montes and Maxwell Montes (the highest mountain on Venus with elevation of around 12 km).
  When looking at the cross-cutting relationship, the inner ridges of the belts seems to be embayed by the material of regional plains (pr), which covered the plateau surface. There is later deformation in terms of tilting towards the belts and wrinkle ridges parallel to the belt. It suggested formation formed right before the deposition of regional plains and later deformation of the belts.
caption: Perspective View of Ishtar Terra showing the mountain belt (mb) units with Akna Montes and Freyja Montes along the western and northwestern edge of Lakshmi Planum, and Maxwell Montes along its eastern edge.
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