This is an example of Venus volcanism.
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Volcanic rises are more like islands than a continents. They are broad, sloping highlands over 1000 km across. They are cut by deep troughs and have shield volcanoes near the top. Measurements suggest that there is hot magma deep beneath these rises that helps to hold them up, as shown in this picture.
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Shield volcanoes can grow to be very big. In fact, the oldest continental regions of Earth may be the remains of ancient shield volcanoes. Unlike the composite volcanoes which are tall and thin, shield...more
Beta Regio is an example of a volcanic rise, and is more like an island than a continent. Volcanic rises such as Beta Regio sometimes contain deep troughs. The troughs may be evidence of a surface inmotion....more
The Magellan mission to Venus confirmed that the surface of Venus is definitely volcanic. As shown in this picture, lava flows extend to hundreds of miles across the plains in the foreground. The surface...more
Alpha Regio is the home of Eve Mons, a volcano. ...more
Aphrodite Terra, the Greek name for the goddess Venus, is about the size of half the continent of Africa, and is to be found along Venus' equator. Aphrodite Terra is different from Ishtar Terra in that,...more
Ishtar Terra is one of the two main continents of Venus, and is found near the north pole. Ishtar Terra is about the size of the United States. Ishtar Terra contains the four main mountain ranges of Venus....more
This image clearly shows a bed where something once flowed. Without proper measurements, scientists can only guess what sort of liquid may have flowed through this channel. On Earth, such channels might...more