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What are Ishtar Terra and Aphrodite Terra on Venus?

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Venus
Venus Venus photographed in ultraviolet light by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (Pioneer 12) spacecraft, February 26, 1979. Although Venus's cloud cover is nearly featureless in visible light, ultraviolet imaging reveals distinctive structure and pattern, including global-scale V-shaped bands that open toward the west (left). Added color in the image emulates Venus's yellow-white appearance to the eye.

Ishtar Terra and Aphrodite Terra are the two primary continent-sized highland areas, or terrae, found on the surface of Venus. These elevated regions are significant geological features shaped by tectonic activity and mantle processes.1

Ishtar Terra

Located in the northern hemisphere, Ishtar Terra is roughly the size of Australia. Its most prominent feature is Lakshmi Planum, a high, lava-covered plateau surrounded by massive mountain ranges, including Maxwell Montes, which is the highest terrain on the planet. The eastern portion of Ishtar is characterized by complex, rugged terrain known as tessera.21

Aphrodite Terra

Aphrodite Terra is the largest highland area on Venus, spanning a surface area comparable to Africa. Situated along the equator, it is significantly larger than Ishtar Terra. Its topography is highly complex, featuring distinct mountain ranges, deep troughs, and extensive regions of deformed tessera terrain, such as Ovda Regio and Thetis Regio.31

Both terrae likely formed through the thickening of the Venusian crust in response to convective motions within the planet's mantle.234