An image of the terrain pitted with strange tunnels was sent to Earth by the Mars Express space station.
Adamas Labyrinthus - this is how scientists called the northern region of Mars, located on the plain of Utopia (Utopia Planitia). A snapshot of it was recently published by the European Space Agency - specifically its German division (German Aerospace Agency).
Experts emphasize: this very Adamas Labyrinthus really resembles a labyrinth. It is formed by blocks 5 to 20 kilometers across, separated by passages 2 kilometers wide.
Scientists do not know exactly how the passages and exits of the labyrinth on the Utopia plateau were formed.
How such an intricate structure was built is not known exactly. There are only hypotheses, one way or another, related to the watery past of Mars. According to one of them, there was a large body of water in the place of the labyrinth. He froze. The water turned into ice, its massifs expanded, forming blocks, which then moved away from each other under the influence of tectonic processes.
According to another hypothesis, the reservoir dried up, but moisture remained under the porous sedimentary rocks. Then it was pushed to the surface again by tectonic processes. Or the labyrinth was formed as a result of a severe flood - a kind of all-Martian flood.
The width of some passages is 2 kilometers
Promotional video:
AT THIS TIME
Don't knock the wheels
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity, which is located on the equator of Mars, is also constantly photographing. Pictures posted on the website of the American space agency. On one of them, one of those that the robot did on the 729th day of its stay on a neighboring planet, a famous and very active virtual archaeologist hiding under the nickname Paranormal Crucible discovered a wheelset.
Indeed, it is clearly visible that two wheels connected by an axle rolled under the stone (in the picture - closer to the middle and slightly to the left). In appearance, they resemble a wagon wheelset. But due to their modest size - no more than 15 centimeters in diameter - they are more suitable for a mine trolley.
Image from NASA website, wheelset circled
Wheelset marked by virtual archaeologist
Wheelset in enlarged view
The virtual archaeologist believes that his find indicates that the Martians lived on Mars, who, at least, rolled something - either on carts or on trolleys. And perhaps they even mined minerals. Or just digging tunnels in their Mars. Or channels.
The easiest way to think of a "wheelset" is just fancy stones. But very much they - these stones - laid down symmetrically.
Vladimir LAGOVSKY
