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La Bajada’s fault? As Opportunity drove downhill in Perseverance from station 1 to station 2 in September
2017, she drove right through this area, named La Bajada after the stop on El Camino
Real de Tierra Adentro, the old, 2,560-kilometer (about 1,591-mile) trade route
between Mexico City and San Juan Pueblo, NM, the team’s naming theme since
entering the valley. What drew the scientists were telltale signs of erosion on the
bright outcrop (right). The rover drove backed uphill to investigate. Further research by
Larry Crumpler indicates La Bajada is likely a fracture or fault. NASA / JPL-Caltech / Cornell / ASU