lunar mare
Sign in to savelarge, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon
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Lunar maria are large, dark, flat plains on the Moon's surface made of basalt rock. They matter because they cover significant portions of the Moon's visible face and help scientists understand the Moon's geological history and volcanic activity.
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The near side of the Moon, with major maria and craters labeled
Lunar maria (/ˈmæri.ə/ MARR-ee-ə) (Singular: mare /ˈmɑːreɪ, -i/ MAR-ay, MAR-ee) are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by lava flowing into ancient impact basins. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich composition, and hence appear dark to the naked eye. The maria cover about 16% of the lunar surface, mostly on the side visible from Earth. The few maria on the far side are much smaller, residing mostly in very large craters.