Evidence of riverbeds, lake deposits, and ice caps confirms Mars once had liquid water. Scientists have found strong proof that Mars once had rivers, lakes, and possibly even oceans. High-resolution images from NASA’s rovers and orbiters show dry riverbeds, lake basins, and sediment layers similar to those found on Earth. These features suggest that liquid water once flowed across the planet’s surface.
Additionally, minerals that form in water, such as clays and sulfates, have been detected on Mars. The Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have also found signs of ancient lake deposits, reinforcing the idea that Mars once had a warmer and wetter climate billions of years ago.
Today, liquid water cannot exist on the Martian surface due to its thin atmosphere and cold temperatures. However, polar ice caps, underground ice, and possible salty water seeps suggest that water still exists in frozen or seasonal liquid form.
The discovery of past water on Mars is exciting because where there was water, there may have been life. Scientists continue to explore Mars to determine if it ever supported microbial life and whether water could exist beneath the surface today.
