Dhaka, May 15 -- The Mars Express mission of the European Space Agency has spotlighted Shalbatana Vallis, a vast Martian valley showing strong evidence of ancient water activity, volcanic processes and geological transformation.

Located near the Martian equator, Shalbatana Vallis stretches about 1,300 kilometres-roughly the length of Italy. A new image captured by the spacecraft's High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) focuses on the northern section of the valley as it winds across the planet's surface.

In October 2025, Mars Express also released a video tracing the valley's path from its source in the highlands of Xanthe Terra to its endpoint in the smoother terrain of Chryse Planitia.

Ancient floods shaped the valley

Scientists belie...