Washington, November 5 Scientists at the US Geological Survey (USGS) have detected a series of depressions on Mars that may harbor caves beneath them, which could provide shelter for future Mars exploration missions.

The depressions were detected by the USGS Astrogeology Science Center using high-resolution images conveyed through Mars-orbiting satellites.

Scientists believe some of these caves were created from a massive volcano, when solid ceilings of cooled material formed over lava channels during ancient volcanic eruptions.

Sections of these ceilings collapsed at some point to form the observed skylight entrances, or caves.

These caves could also shed light on whether microbial life forms have ever existed on the Red Planet. (ANI)