List of Martian canals

This is an incomplete list of Martian canals from the erroneous belief in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that "Martian canals" existed on the surface of the red planet.[1][2] These canals were named by Giovanni Schiaparelli and Percival Lowell, amongst others, after real and legendary rivers of various places on Earth or the mythological underworld. A partial list of names are provided below with the regions that the canals were thought to connect.[3][4]

Name Pronunciation Locationˈ Source of name
Acalandrus /ˌækəˈlændrəs/ From a stream in Lucania, Italy, now called Calandro
Acampsis /əˈkæmpsɪs/ From a river in Pontus that flowed into the Black Sea, now called Çoruh/Chorokhi
Acesines /æsɪˈsnz/ From a Sicilian river, now called Cantara; also the name of Chenab, one of the rivers of the Punjab
Achana /ˈækənə/ From a river in northern Arabia
Achates /əˈktz/ From a Sicilian river now called the Drillo, in which agates were found
Acheloüs /ˌækɪˈləs/ From Achelous, a river in western Greece
Acheron /ˈækərɒn/ From Acheron, both a real river in Epirus and a mythical river of Hades
Acis /ˈsɪs/ From a Sicilian river now called Fiume di Iaci
Aeacus /ˈəkəs/ N to S: runs through Cebrenia to the junction of Styx and Boreas canals
Aeolus /ˈləs/ From Aeolus, keeper of the winds in Greek mythology
Aesis /ˈsɪs/ From an Italian river, now called Fiumesino
Aethiops /ˈθiɒps/ Means "the Ethiopian"
Agathodaemon /ˌæɡəθˈdmɒn/ N to S: connects Tithonius Lacus to Aonius Sinus, opposite Protei Regio; just W of Aurea Cherso Means "good spirit"
Alcyonius /ˌælsiˈniəs/
Alpheus /ælˈfəs/ Runs NS through Hellas From the river Alpheios in the Peloponnesus of Greece
Ambrosia /æmˈbrʒiə/ S to N: connects Solis Lacus with Bosphorus Gemmatus, running through Thaumasia From ambrosia, the legendary food of the gods
Amenthes /əˈmɛnθz/
Amphrysus /æmˈfrsəs/ From a Thessalian river, now called Armiro
Amystis /əˈmɪstɪs/ From a river of India
Anapus /əˈnpəs/ From an Acarnanian or Sicilian river
Anian /ˈniæn/ After the Strait of Anián, a mythical water passage in the American northwest
Antaeus /ænˈtəs/ NW to SE: from the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos canals to the Atlantis region From Antaeus, son of Earth, a gigantic opponent of Heracles
Anubis /əˈnjbɪs/ From the Egyptian god Anubis
Apis /ˈpɪs/ From the Egyptian god Apis
Araxes /əˈræksz/ E to W: connects Phoenicis Lacus with the E end of Mare Sirenum From Araxes, a river in eastern Anatolia, northern Iran
Argaeus /ɑːrˈəs/ Flows S from pole to junction of Pyramus and Pierius canals
Arges /ˈɑːrz/
Arnon /ˈɑːrnɒn/ N to S: connects Arethusa Lacus to Ismenius Lacus From the small river Arnon now in the Kingdom of Jordan
Aroeris NE to SW: from "Copais Palus" to Ismenius Lacus
Arosis /ˈærsɪs/
Arsanias /ɑːrˈsniæs/ From an Armenian river
Artanes /ˈɑːrtənz/
Ascanius /æsˈkniəs/ From the Trojan Ascanius, son of Aeneas
Asclepius /æsˈklpiəs/ From the Greek deity of healing Asclepius
Asopus /əˈspəs/
Astaboras /æsˈtæbɔːræs/ E to W: connects Syrtis Major to Ismenius Lacus From a name for the Atbarah river, a branch of the upper Nile
Astapus /ˈæstəpəs/ From a name for the Blue Nile river
Astusapes /æsˈtjsəpz/ From a name for the White Nile river
Atax /ˈtæks/
Athesis /ˈæθɪsɪs/ From the river Adige in Venezia
Athyr /ˈθɪər/ From a form of the name of the Egyptian goddess Hathor
Avernus /əˈvɛərnəs/ NE to SW: connects Ammonii Fons to the E end of Mare Cimmerium via Aquae Apollinaris From Avernus, a river of Hades
Avus /ˈvəs/
Axius /ˈæksiəs/
Axon /ˈæksɒn/
Bactrus /ˈbæktrəs/ From a river of Bactria
Baetis /ˈbtɪs/ From the classical name of the Guadalquivir river
Bathys /ˈbθɪs/ From a river of Pontus
Bautis /ˈbɔːtɪs/
Belus /ˈbləs/
Boreas /ˈbɔːriæs/ E to W: connects Propontis to Anian canal From Boreas, the Greek name for the North Wind
Boreosyrtis /ˌbɔːriˈsɪərtɪs/ E to W in curve between Utopia and Dioscuria
Brontes /ˈbrɒntz/
Cadmus /ˈkædməs/ From the Greek hero Cadmus
Caicus
Callirrhoë /kəˈlɪri/ Means "flowing beautifully"
Cambyses
Cantabras
Carpis /ˈkɑːrpɪs/
Casius /ˈkʒiəs/ NW to SE: connects Copaïs Palus to Nodus Alcyonius
Casuentus /ˌkæzjuˈntəs/
Catarrhactes /ˌkætəˈræktz/
Caÿster /kˈɪstər/
Cedron /ˈsdrɒn/ NW to SE; connects the Jaxartes canal to Arethusa Lacus From the Brook of Cedron near Jerusalem
Centrites
Cephissus /sɪˈfɪsəs/ From any of several rivers in Greece called Cephissus
Ceraunius /sɪəˈrɔːniəs/ A broad canal, or pair of canals, running NS from Tharsis down to between Tempe and Arcadia
Cerberus /ˈsɛərbərəs/ NE to SW: connects Trivium Charontis to the W end of Mare Cimmerium From the name of the dog Cerberus that guards the gates of Hades
Cestrus /ˈsɛstrəs/
Chaboras
Chretes /ˈkrtz/
Choaspes /kˈæspz/ From Choaspes, a river of Susiana, Persia
Chrysas /ˈkrsæs/
Chrysorrhoas /krˈsɒræs/ N to S: connects Lunae Lacus to Tithonius Lacus Means "flowing with gold"
Cinyphus
Clitumnus /klˈtʌmnəs/
Clodianus /ˌklɒdiˈnəs/
Cocytus /kˈstəs/ Named for Cocytus, a mythical river of Hades
Cophen /ˈkfɛn/
Coprates
Corax /ˈkɔːræks/
Cyaneus /sˈniəs/
Cyclops /ˈsklɒps/ Southern continuation of Galaxias canal, running from the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos to Mare Cimmerium Named for the one-eyed monster Cyclops of Greek myth
Cydnus /ˈsɪdnəs/
Cyrus /ˈsrəs/
Daemon /ˈdmɒn/
Daix
Daradax
Dardanus /ˈdɑːrdənəs/ E to W: connects Niliacus Lacus to Ceraunius canal
Dargamenes
Deuteronilus /ˌdjtərˈnləs/ E to W: connects Ismenius Lacus to Niliacus Lacus via Dirce Fons Means 'Second Nile'
Digentia /dˈɛnʃiə/
Dosaron
Drahonus
Elison
Eosphoros /iˈɒsfɔːrɒs/ NW to SE: connects Phoenicis Lacus to Solis Lacus Means "bringer of dawn"
Erannoboas /ˌɛrəˈnɒbæs/ A river of India
Erebus /ˈɛrɪbəs/ From Erebus, a name for the Underworld
Erigone /ɪəˈrɪɡni/
Erinaeus /ˌɛrɪˈnəs/
Erinnys /ɪəˈrɪnɪs/ E to W: connects the W end of Mare Sirenum to Titanum Sinus in Memnonia From the mythical Erinyes
Erymanthus /ˌɛrɪˈmænθəs/
Eulaeus /jˈləs/
Eumenides /jˈmɛnɪdz/ NW to SE: the SE continuation of Orcus canal, from Nodus Gordii to Phoenicis Lacus From another name for the Erinyes
Eunostos /jˈnɒstɒs/
Euphrates /jˈfrtz/ N to S: connects Sinus Sabaeus to Ismenius Lacus From the river Euphrates in Mesopotamia, one of the four rivers of the Garden of Eden
Euripus /jʊəˈrpəs/ SE to NW, connects Mare Tyrrhenum and Mare Hadriaticum, running through Ausonia After the strait between Euboea and Boeotia
Eurotas /jʊəˈrtæs/ After the river Eurotas in Greece
Eurymedon /jʊəˈrɪmɪdɒn/
Eurypus /ˈjʊərɪpəs/
Evenus /ɪˈvnəs/ aka Euenus /juˈnəs/
Feuos /ˈfjɒs/ aka Fevos [ ˈfivɒs ]
Fortunae /fɔːrˈtjni/ Means "of Fortune"
Gaesus /ˈsəs/
Galaesus /ɡəˈlsəs/
Galaxias /ɡəˈlæksiæs/ N to S: from Anian to the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos S of Elysium
Ganges /ˈɡænz/ N to S: connects Lunae Lacus to Aurorae Sinus From the Ganges, a river of India
Ganymede /ˈɡænɪmd/ From Ganymede, the cupbearer of Zeus
Garrhuenus
Gehon /ˈɒn/ N to S: connects Mare Acidalium to the W end of Sinus Sabaeus From Gihon, one of the four rivers of Eden Also spelled Gihon [ ˈdʒajɒn ]
Gigas /ˈɡæs/ NE to SW: connects Ascraeus Lacus to Titanum Sinus via Lucus Maricae From the mythical monsters called Gigantes
Glaucus /ˈɡlɔːkəs/
Gorgon /ˈɡɔːrɡɒn/ Connects Mare Sirenum and the Eumenides canal near Nodus Gordii From the mythical monster Gorgon
Gyes /ˈz/
Gyndes /ˈɪndz/ From a river flowing into the Tigris
Hades /ˈhdz/ N to S: connects Trivium Charontis and Propontis From the Greek name for the Underworld and its ruling deity, Hades
Halys /hlɪs/
Harpasus
Hebe /ˈhbi/
Hebrus /ˈhbrəs/
Heliconius /ˌhɛlɪˈkniəs/ E to W: connects Sithonius Lacus to Copaïs Palus
Helisson /hɪˈlɪsɒn/
Hephaestus /hɪˈfɛstəs/ From the god Hephaestus
Heratemis
Hiddekel /ˈhɪdɪkɛl/ NE to SW: connects Ismenius Lacus to Fastigium Aryn at the western end of Sinus Sabaeus From the Hebrew name for the Tigris, a river of Mesopotamia and one of the four rivers of Eden
Hipparis
Hippus /ˈhɪpəs/
Hyblaeus /hɪˈbləs/ NE to SW: connects Anian canal to Hephaestus canal
Hyctanis
Hydaspes /hˈdæspz/ From the Greek name for the Jhelum river of India
Hydraotes /ˌhɪdrˈtz/ SE to NW; connects Margaritifer Sinus to Lunae Lacus After the Greek name for the Ravi river of India
Hydriacus
Hylias
Hyllus /ˈhɪləs/
Hyphasis
Hypsas /ˈhɪpsəs/
Hyscus /ˈhɪskəs/
Idalius /ˈdliəs/
Ilissus /ˈlɪsəs/
Indus /ˈɪndəs/ N to S: connects Niliacus Lacus to Margaritifer Sinus From the Indus, a river of India
Iris /ˈaɪərɪs/ N to S: connects Phoenicis Lacus to Ceraunius canal Named for the goddess of the rainbow Iris
Isis /ˈsɪs/ From the Egyptian goddess Isis
Issedon /ˈɪsɪdɒn/
Jamuna /ˈæmjnə/ N to S; connects Niliacus Lacus to Aurorae Sinus From the Yamuna or Jumna, a river of India
Jaxartes /ækˈsɑːrtz/ From an old name for the Syr Darya, a river of Transoxiana
Jordanis /ɔːrˈdnɪs/ From the river Jordan in the Holy Land
Kison /ˈksɒn/
Labotas
Laestrygon /lɛsˈtrɡɒn/ N to S: connects Trivium Charontis to Mare Cimmerium
Leontes /liˈɒntz/
Lethes /ˈlθz/ N to S: connects Hephaestus canal to Syrtis Minor From Lethe, a mythical river of Hades
Liris /ˈlaɪərɪs/
Maeander /miˈændər/
Magon /ˈmɡɒn/
Malva /ˈmælvə/ From the river Malua in Mauretania
Margus /ˈmɑːrɡəs/
Medus /ˈmdəs/
Medusa /mɪˈdjsə/ From the mythical monster Medusa
Mogrus /ˈmɡrəs/
Nectar /ˈnɛktɑːr/ Runs E from Solis Lacus to Nectaris Fons (near Protei Regio) From nectar, the legendary drink of the gods
Neda /ˈndə/ A river of the Peloponnesus
Nepenthes /nɪˈpɛnθz/ NE to SW: from junction of Thoth and Triton canals to Syrtis Major via Lacus Moeris
Nereides /nɪəˈrədz/ From the nymphs called Nereids
Nestus /ˈnɛstəs/ A river of Thrace
Neudrus /ˈnjdrəs/ A river of India
Nilokeras /nˈlɒkɪræs/ E to W: connects Niliacus Lacus with Lunae Lacus Means "horn of the Nile"
Nilosyrtis /ˌnɪlˈsɪərtɪs/ A broad canallike feature, running N from the tip of Syrtis Major to Coloë Palus
Nilus /ˈnləs/ From the Nile, the river of Egypt
Nymphaeus /nɪmˈfəs/ A river of Armenia
Oceanus /ˈsənəs/ From Oceanus, a mythical river surrounding the world and the Titan who shared its name
Ochus /ˈkəs/ A river of Bactriana
Opharus /ˈɒfərəs/ A river of Sarmatia
Orcus /ˈɔːrkəs/ NW to SE: connects Trivium Charontis to Nodus Gordii, where it turns into Eumenides canal From Orcus, a synonym of Hades
Orontes /ˈrɒntz/ E to SW: connects Serbonis Palus to Sabaeus Sinus From the Orontes, a river of Syria
Orosines
Oxus /ˈɒksəs/ NE to SW: connects the Deuteronilus and the Indus canals From an old name for the Amu Darya, a river of Central Asia
Pactolus /pækˈtləs/ From the river Pactolus in Anatolia
Padargus /pəˈdɑːrɡəs/
Palamnus /pəˈlæmnəs/
Parcae /ˈpɑːrsi/
Peneus /pɪˈnəs/ Runs EW through Hellas From the Peneios river in the Peloponnesus of Greece
Permessus /pɛərˈmɛsəs/
Pierius /pˈɪəriəs/ E to W: connects Copaïs Palus and Arethusa Lacus
Phasis /ˈfsɪs/ N to S: connects Phoenicis Lacus and Aonius Sinus
Phison /ˈfsɒn/ N to S: connects Coloë Palus to Sinus Sabaeus From Pishon, one of the four rivers of Eden
Phlegethon /ˈflɛɪθɒn/ From the Phlegethon, a mythical river of Hades
Protonilus /ˌprɒtˈnləs/ E to W: connects Coloë Palus and Ismenius Lacus Means "first Nile"
Psychrus /ˈskrəs/
Pyramus /ˈpɪrəməs/ S from pole via Copaïs Palus to junction of Boreosyrtis and Cadmus canals
Pyriphlegethon /ˌpɪrɪˈflɛɪθɒn/ NW to SE: connecting Propontis and Lacus Phoenicis From Pyriphlegethon ("fiery Phlegethon"), a mythical river of Hades
Python /ˈpθɒn/ From the monster Python which Apollo killed
Rha /ˈr/ From a classical name for the river Volga
Rhyndacus /ˈrɪndəkəs/ From the classical river Rhyndacus in Anatolia
Scamander /skəˈmændər/ S to N from Mare Chronium to Mare Cimmerium, between Electris and Eridania From the river Scamander in the Troad
Sesamus /ˈsɛsəməs/ From a Paphlagonian river
Simoïs /ˈsɪmɪs/ S to N from Mare Chronium to Mare Cimmerium between Phaëthontis and Electris From the river Simoïs in the Troad
Sirenius /sˈrniəs/ N to S: connects the Tanais canal near Nerigos with the E end of Mare Sirenum Means "of the Sirens
Siris /ˈsaɪərɪs/ From an Italian river in Lucania
Sitacus /ˈsɪtəkəs/ NE to SW: connects Coloë Palus to Fastigium Aryn From the name of a river in Persis
Steropes /ˈstɛrpz/ From the name of a Cyclops
Styx /ˈstɪks/ From the mythical river Styx in Hades
Surius /ˈsjʊəriəs/ From a river of Colchis
Tanaïs /ˈtæn.ɪs/ From Tanais, an old name for the river Don in Sarmatia
Tantalus /ˈtæntələs/ From Tantalus, a mythical king imprisoned in Hades
Tartarus /ˈtɑːrtərəs/ N to S: connects Trivium Charontis to Titanum Sinus From Tartarus, a name for the Underworld
Tedanius /tɪˈdniəs/ From an Illyrian river
Thermodon /θɛərˈmdɒn/
Thoth /ˈθɒθ/ From the name of the Egyptian god Thoth
Thyanis /ˈθənɪs/ Possibly an error for Thyamus, the name of a river of Epirus
Titan /ˈttən/ From the Titans, the relatives and opponents of the gods
Tithonius /tˈθniəs/
Triton /ˈtrtɒn/ NW to SE: connects Nepenthes canal to the W end of Mare Cimmerium From the seadeity Triton
Tyndis /ˈtɪndɪs/
Typhon /ˈtfɒn/ E to W: connects Deltoton Sinus to Sirbonis Palus
Typhonius /tˈfniəs/
Ulysses /jˈlɪsz/ From Ulysses, the Roman name for Odysseus
Uranius /jʊəˈrniəs/ E to W: connects Lunae Lacus to Ascraeus Lacus
Xanthus /ˈzænθəs/ N to S: connects Mare Tyrrhenum to Promethei Sinus, between Eridania and Ausonia Means "yellow"
Xenius /ˈzniəs/ NE to SW: connects Arethusa Lacus to Dirce Fons

Sources

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  • Percival Lowell (11 January 2019). Mars and Its Canals: Classic RePrint. Forgotten Books. ISBN 978-1440039843.
  • Percival Lowell (1 January 1908). Mars and Its Canals. The Macmillan Company. ASIN B006X59J1M.

References

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  1. ^ "100 Years Ago in Scientific American - The Riddle of Mars". Scientific American. 1907. p. 393. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  2. ^ Percival Lowell (24 February 1910). "The New Canals of Mars". Nature. 82 (2104): 489–491. Bibcode:1910Natur..82R.489L. doi:10.1038/082489d0. S2CID 5396720. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  3. ^ Percival Lowell (11 January 2019). Mars and Its Canals: Classic RePrint. Forgotten Books. ISBN 978-1440039843.
  4. ^ Percival Lowell. "Mars. Chapter IV. Canals". Wanderer.org. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
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