Acidalia Planitia
Acidalia Planitia is a large, flat region in the northern lowlands of Mars. It's characterized by weathered craters and windblown deposits. The area has been studied for signs of ancient water activity and is notable in science fiction as the landing site of the fictional Ares 3 mission in 'The Martian.'
Source: themis.asu.edu
APODs including "Acidalia Planitia"
Dust Storm Over Northern Mars
10/07/2003
Almost on cue, as Mars nears its closest approach to planet Earth in recorded history, ominous seasonal dust storms are beginning to kick up. Observers worry that the activity may presage the development of a planet wide dust storm, frustrating attempts to view Mars in the coming months, a situation similar to the Red Planet's uncooperative behavior in 2001. In this example, recorded in mid-May by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft camera, a dust storm the size of a continent sweeps north and east (toward the upper right) across Mars' northern Acidalia Planitia. Meanwhile, interplanetary robotic explorers Mars Express/ Beagle 2, Nozomi, and the twin Mars Exploration Rovers Opportunity and Spirit, are all bound for Mars and should arrive by early January 2004.