The new HRSC image shows a region located in the northern hemisphere, along the Martian dichotomy boundary that separates the ancient highlands of Tempe Terra from the northern lowlands of Chryse Planitia and the southern Acidalia plains (see context map). Just a few kilometers to the southwest lies the outlet of Kasei Valles, one of Mars’ largest outflow channels, carved by catastrophic floods in the planet’s past (see context map). The dichotomy boundary here is marked by a steep escarpment known as Nilokeras Scopulus – from the Latin meaning scarp or cliff – which rises about two kilometers above the surrounding terrain (see context map). Standing at the edge of the Tempe Terra plateau would feel much like standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon – except that this Martian cliff stretches nearly twice the canyon’s length. The scarp likely formed through a combination of tectonic faulting and erosion caused by the flooding events that shaped Kasei Valles.

Also not far away, south of the mouth of Kasei Valles and the scene shown here (see context map), is the landing site of NASA's Viking 1 mission, the first probe to carry out experiments on the planet over a long period of time. The mission landed on 20 July 1976 in the west of the Chryse Planitia plain. The landing was originally planned for the American Independence Day on 4th of July 1976, but the Viking 1 orbiter showed a large density of boulders at the intended landing site in the first images from orbit, which posed a risk to the landing. NASA therefore spent ten days searching for a more suitable landing site. The caution and patience paid off: Viking 1 functioned until the end of 1982.