Meridiani Planum

This HiRISE image shows geologic "contacts", or boundaries, between light-toned and dark-toned material in Meridiani Planum, near the equator of Mars. Merdiani Planum is where the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is located, although this image covers an area that is more than 600 km to the east of the Opportunity site. The central portion of the image shows very smooth, dark plains that are typical of much of the Meridiani region. These plains are flanked by more rugged lighter-toned materials. The light-toned materials have been eroded to form dramatic pits, buttes and mesas. Based on the lengths of the shadows that they cast, some of the buttes and mesas are up to about 30 meters (~100 feet) tall. The light-toned material shows distinctive layering, suggesting that it may be composed of sedimentary rock. Scattered across the scene, especially in the light-toned materials where they are prominent in low spots and around some of the larger buttes and mesas, are dunes and other similar landforms created by martian winds.