False-colour image of tectonic ridge structures on the surface of Venus, made by the Magellan radar- mapping spacecraft in November 1990. This area is

---

False-colour image of tectonic ridge structures on the surface of Venus, made by the Magellan radar- mapping spacecraft in November 1990. This area is part of the Ovda Regio, a highland area at the western end of the equatorial continent Aphrodite Terra. The ridge and valley structure running northeast-southwest (top right to bottom left) are thought to be caused by crust compression. The faults running at right angles to the ridges are the result of later crust extensions. The large valley running top left to bottom right is filled with radar-dark lava. This history of tectonic motion is similar to the crustal plate movements that formed mountains and rift valleys on Earth.

---

Size: 3783px × 4709px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: astronomy, cosmology, detail, features, imagery, magellan, ovda, planet, planetary, regio, ridge, science, structure, surface, tectonic, venus