The valley winds its way from the left side (south) to the right (north) side of the HRSC image (see annotated image). Shalbatana is up to approximately 10 kilometers wide and about 500 meters deep. The low depth-to-width ratio is characteristic of outflow channels because they are carved rapidly which widens their path. However, compared to other outflow channels in this region, such as Ares Vallis, Shalbatana is relative narrow. Over time, the valley was infilled by different materials and was probably deeper in the past. On the left side of the image there is a roundish depression formed by the water floods. This depression is characterized by chaotic terrain. A dark layer can also be spotted, which could be volcanic ash deposited by wind (see perspective view). In October last year, the “Flight around Xanthe Terra” was published, capturing the broader context of the region. This film takes the viewer from the highlands to the lowlands following the course of Shalbatana Vallis.