Mars’s Breathtaking Ice Crater: A Year-Round Winter Wonder

Near Mars’s north pole lies an extraordinary sight that could be mistaken for a holiday postcard from another world. The Korolev Crater houses a spectacular ice formation spanning 60 kilometers across and reaching nearly 2 kilometers in depth.

Supplementary Figure 2 Colorado Front Range inside Korolev Crater to scale

Unlike seasonal ice formations, this massive water ice deposit remains frozen throughout the Martian year. Scientists believe the crater creates a natural cold trap—when air moves over the ice, it cools and sinks, forming a protective layer that shields the ice from melting even during Mars’s six-month northern summer.

korolev crater

This stunning image combines five separate strips captured by the High Resolution Stereo Camera aboard the European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft in April 2024. The spacecraft has been orbiting the Red Planet since 2003. The processed view simulates what you might see with your own eyes if floating above the crater’s edge.

“The color is exactly what you would see,” explains Ralf Jaumann from the German Aerospace Center, where scientists processed the image. While the ice may contain traces of Martian dust, it’s not enough to alter its brilliant white appearance.

Natural color view of Korolev crater from Mars Express

Mars’s poles also feature permanent ice caps containing both water ice and frozen carbon dioxide. During the northern Martian winter, these caps gain an additional 1-2 meter layer of carbon dioxide ice, further enhancing the planet’s remarkable frozen landscapes.

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