Our
oceans evaporated ages ago, and outside of the precipitation of
moisture at the poles in the form of snow, none is to be had
anywhere else on the planet except in very meager quantities.
The astronomer Lowell of your Earth, who made a life study of our
planet, called these reservoirs "Oases," but he was mistaken in
his theory. He concluded that these points, which appear as
round disks in the telescope, were centers of population. This
conclusion is erroneous. The centers of population on Mars are
scattered over the entire planet regardless of the position of
the so-called "Oases." It is quite true that owing to the rapid
evaporation of water in the comparatively thin atmosphere of
Mars, the dewfall for quite a radius from the center of the
reservoirs is considerable, with the result that vegetation
springs up, giving the "Oases" the appearance of a diameter of
about 75 miles. The reservoirs are about 60 miles across and
hold millions of gallons of water.
The same explanation may be given of the Canals. The dewfall on
each side is extensive, and the vegetal growth which extends the
full length of the water-ways and for thousands of miles in some
cases, is most prolific.
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