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The surface of Mars is lifeless and dusty with reddish soil formed from volcanic rocks.Mars has many canyons, volcanoes, river beds, and craters. The reddish color of Mars' terrain is caused by the chemical break-down of iron-rich rocks. The rocks on Mars are mainly basalt, and there are other kinds of rocks that are unknown to us right now.
Click here to see NASA's large photo of Mars' surface.
The largest canyon in the solar system can be found on Mars. It is called Valles Marineris. This canyon is huge! It is as long as the distance between California and New York.
Mars also has the largest volcano in the solar system. It is called Olympus Mons. Its area is almost as big as the state of Arizona. This volcano is about 15 miles above land. That's about twice as high as Mt. Everest. Wow! Nearby are three other volcanoes that are almost the size of Olympus Mons. They are Arsia Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Ascraeus Mons.
A unique feature on Mars that fascinated scientists is called "The Face." This strange feature is nothing more than a bumpy hill.
Unlike Earth, Mars has no bodies of water such as oceans, lakes or rivers, but Mars has permanent ice caps at its north and south poles. They are small, but they get bigger during the winter of each hemisphere.
Click here to take Ryan's Mini Quiz about Mars' terrain and get a stamp for your passport.
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