Satellite images reveal signs of a massive ocean that covered parts of Mars billions of years ago, leaving behind vast shorelines and water-carved landscapes.
Mars once had rivers that fed into large lakes and seas. Their winding paths, seen in dried riverbeds, suggest water moved freely across the planet for millions of years.
Scientists discovered what look like coastal cliffs and sand dunes, shaped by waves and wind, just like those on Earth. This hints at a watery past on Mars.
Salt deposits found on Mars suggest that water once evaporated, leaving minerals behind. Similar deposits on Earth are often found in dried-up lakes and ocean beds.
Mars' ancient beaches and lakes might have once supported life. Microbes could have thrived in these waters, just like they do in Earth’s oceans and lakes today.
Mars wasn’t always a dry desert. Scientists believe its atmosphere was once thicker, allowing liquid water to exist before climate changes turned it into a cold wasteland.
NASA and other space agencies plan missions to explore these ancient coastlines. Studying Mars’ beaches could reveal clues about its past and the possibility of life.