Scientists Discover First Evidence of Lava Tubes on Venus

Scientists Discover First Evidence of Lava Tubes on Venus

Venus has often been called Earth’s sister planet however there are stark differences between them. Among the similarities are a number of geological features and lava tubes are just one example. These natural tunnels form when the surface of a lava flow cools and solidifies while hot lava continues to flow beneath. They are common in Iceland and Hawaii and now, for the first time they have been found on Venus too.

Scientists discover first evidence of lava tubes on Venus

Venus is often called Earth's "sister planet" because of their similarities in size, mass, and composition. Both are rocky worlds that formed about the same time in the inner solar system; however, despite these similarities, Venus evolved into a world vastly different from Earth, with surface temperatures around 465°C, crushing atmospheric pressure 90 times greater than Earth's and thick clouds containing sulfuric acid circling the planet. Thes…