This image, captured by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows a hole in the surface of Mars. The hole is about 3 feet wide and 8 feet deep, and it is located in a region called Syrtis Major.

Scientists are not sure what created the hole, but there are a few possibilities. One theory is that the hole was formed by a meteor impact. Another theory is that the hole was formed by volcanic activity. A third theory is that the hole was formed by the collapse of a lava tube.

This is a sinkhole -- a collapsed pit in soft ground - a region dominated by ancient lava flows from nearby volcanoes such as Syrtis Major.