Noctis Labyrinthus

Noctis Labyrinthus, "The Labyrinth of the Night" is a maze-like complex of valleys and canyons at the western end of Valles Marineris. Noctis is thought to have been formed by volcanic activity from the massive shield volcanoes to its West, including Tharis Montes, Arsis Mons, and Olympus Mons. Noctis lacks any standing water, but seasonal rivers tend to appear during Mars' rainy season. Flash flooding during these seasons make the valleys unfeasible for large scale settlements. The altitude of these valleys is also relatively high compared to the rest of Valles Marineris, resulting in a much thinner atmosphere.
During the 23rd century, it became apparent that Noctis Labyrinthus contains an unknown number of subterranean caverns and lava tubes which have since been occupied by various Martian tribes to hide during conflicts. During the Pacific Asia Coalition's Intervention on Mars and the Transnational Aerospace Security Alliance (TASA)'s Campaign Against New Dawn, Martian insurgents have used Noctis Labyrinthus to hide from the better equipped forces from Earth.
TASA has made an effort to map the underground terrain of the region, but have been unable to clear or even find every cavern and tunnel.

Type

Gorge / Rift

Location under

Mars