This image shows striking features. A linear trough strikes northeast, then abruptly ends (or changes into a narrow ridge). Where the trough ends, a sinuous channel has an east-southeast strike, trending at almost a right angle to the trough. What happened to form these features?

We can speculate that first there was a southwest-to-northeast trending fracture or fault, perhaps associated with a volcanic vent. Groundwater (or some other runny fluid) coursed through the fault until overflowing and forming the sinuous channel. Continued movement through the fault carved a trough up to the overflow point.

Be sure to look at the stereo anaglyph through red-blue glasses.

ID: ESP_086934_1775
date: 11 February 2025
altitude: 257 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_086934_1775
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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