Astonishing photos reveal pictures of Mars

The European Space Agency released an astonishing series of pictures showing the remnants of a huge river than once ran across Mars, The Daily Mail reported.

It cut a steep-sided channel through the Promethei Terra Highlands before running on towards the floor of the vast Hellas basin.

This astonishing structure, which stretches for almost 900 mile (1500 km) across the martian landscape, is flanked by numerous tributaries, one of which can be clearly seen cutting in to the main valley towards the upper (north) side.

Experts have said the images show a 'striking resemblance to the morphology found in regions on Earth affected by glaciation'.

“For example, we can see circular step-like structures on the inner walls of the sediment-filled crater in the foreground of the second perspective view,” ESA said.

Planetary scientists think that these may represent former high water or glacial levels, before ice and water sublimated or evaporated away in stages at various times.

The sides of Reull Vallis are said to be particularly sharp and steep in these images, ESA said, with parallel longitudinal features covering the floor of the channel itself.

These structures are believed to be caused by the passage of loose debris and ice during the ‘Amazonian’ period (which continues to this day) due to glacial flow along the channel.

The structures were formed long after it was originally carved by liquid water during the Hesperian period, which is believed to have ended between 3.5 billion and 1.8 billion years ago.

Similar lineated structures, believed to be rich in ice, can also be found in many of the surrounding craters.

The right (northern) part of the main image is dominated by the Promethei Terra Highlands with their high and soft-rounded mountains shown in these images, rising around 2500 m above the surrounding flat plains.

“The morphology of Reull Vallis suggests it has experienced a diverse and complex history, with analogies seen in glacial activity on Earth.

“These analogies are giving planetary geologists tantalising glimpses of a past on the Red Planet not too dissimilar to events on our own world today.”