Ancient Martian Lakes

Ancient Martian lakes refer to bodies of water that existed on Mars billions of years ago, suggesting the planet once had conditions suitable for liquid water. Evidence includes sedimentary rocks, mineral deposits, and dried-up lakebeds observed by orbiters and rovers. These lakes imply Mars had a thicker atmosphere, surface water, and potentially the ingredients necessary for life. While today Mars is dry and barren, studying ancient lakes provides insights into its climatic history and the possibility that the planet could have supported microbial life in the past.