White polar regions and large-scale surface features of Mars are visible here.
From Earth, Mars is visible as a reddish dot. On closer inspection, features such as mammoth volcanoes are visible. It is possible to infer a very interesting history of the Martian surface from certain geological features.
Color
The surface of Mars is predominantly red. White patches exist at the poles, similar to the Earth's polar regions. Frozen carbon dioxide and (possibly) frozen water are responsible for the white in Martian polar regions.
Geography
Volcanic and impact craters dot the surface. The Olympus Mons is a giant volcano formed by repeated lava flows. Since Mars does not have significant tectonic plate movement, a subterranean hot spot will emit lava over the same location, creating giant isolated mountains on the surface.
History
In the past, Mars almost certainly had liquid water. This is inferred from underground water ice deposits and surface features that look like they could have only been formed by the eroding action of rivers and oceans. Mars has an atmosphere and substantial winds that alter the planet's surface, much as erosion does on Earth. The fact that water-carved features are still visible indicates that liquid water was present on Mars relatively recently.
Tags: polar regions, liquid water, Mars visible, surface features
