Changes

Since ''Opportunity'' landed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars it has sent back findings showing that the area was once underwater and that the water was vary acidic. This high concentration of [[sulfuric acid]] militates against this being a habitable sea. The entire Meridiani Planum region has much evidence of catastrophic flooding, including a clear inlet channel to the southeast and a splash zone in the north.

Since ''Opportunity'' landed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars it has sent back findings showing that the area was once underwater and that the water was vary acidic. This high concentration of [[sulfuric acid]] militates against this being a habitable sea. The entire Meridiani Planum region has much evidence of catastrophic flooding, including a clear inlet channel to the southeast and a splash zone in the north.

Mars contains the largest of three major geologic features in the Solar System. The largest impact basin, the largest volcanoes and the largest canyon are all found on Mars and in a clear relationship to each other. This relationship provides the key to understanding Martian geology.

Mars contains the largest of three major geologic features in the Solar System. The largest impact basin, the largest volcano and the largest canyon are all found on Mars and in a clear relationship to each other. This relationship provides the key to understanding Martian geology.

[[Image:Mars topography.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Mars' global topography, and the relationship between the Hellas impact basin and the Tharsis volcanoes.]]Mars’ largest impact basin is called Hellas. As shown in the topography map, on exactly the other side of Mars from Hellas is Mount Alba Patera, the largest volcano by surface area. This antipodal juxtaposition suggests that the Hellas impact caused the eruptions of Alba Patera and the volcanoes of the Tharsis plateau to the south and southwest. To the east is found the gigantic rift valley called Valles Marineris.  

[[Image:Mars topography.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Mars' global topography, and the relationship between the Hellas impact basin and the Tharsis volcanoes.]]Mars’ largest impact basin is called Hellas. As shown in the topography map, on exactly the other side of Mars from Hellas is Mount Alba Patera, the largest volcano by surface area. This antipodal juxtaposition suggests that the Hellas impact caused the eruptions of Alba Patera and the volcanoes of the Tharsis plateau to the south and southwest. To the east is found the gigantic rift valley called Valles Marineris.  

These relationships indicate a major geologic catastrophe on Mars resulting in massive volcanic activity. The dating of this event from craters places it at about the time of the [[Great Flood]] on [[Earth]]. This volcanic activity would have increased Mars’s atmospheric pressure to allow liquid water to flow on the surface and thus allow the flooding of the Meridiani Planum region.

These relationships indicate a major geologic catastrophe on Mars resulting in massive volcanic activity. The dating of this event from craters places it at about the time the [[Great Flood]] on [[Earth]] is belived to have happened. This volcanic activity would have increased Mars’s atmospheric pressure to allow liquid water to flow on the surface and thus allow the flooding of the Meridiani Planum region.

This shows that, like Earth, Mars has evidence that it is only a few thousands of years old and not 4.6 billion years old.<ref name=creager>Creager, Charles, Jr. "[http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/arj/v1/n1/mars-testament-catastrophe Mars, a Testament to Catastrophe]." ''Answers Research Journal'' 1 (2008): 89–93. Accessed September 23, 2008.</ref>

This leads creation scientists to belive that, like Earth, Mars has evidence that it is only a few thousands of years old and not 4.6 billion years old.<ref name=creager>Creager, Charles, Jr. "[http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/arj/v1/n1/mars-testament-catastrophe Mars, a Testament to Catastrophe]." ''Answers Research Journal'' 1 (2008): 89–93. Accessed September 23, 2008.</ref>

== Mars in popular culture ==

== Mars in popular culture ==