Alpha Regio

Alpha Regio is a region of the planet Venus extending for about 1500 kilometers centered at 22°S, 5°E.

[1] The name was approved by the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (IAU/WGPSN) between 1976 and 1979.

[2] Maxwell Montes, Alpha Regio, and Beta Regio are the three exceptions to the rule that the surface features of Venus are to be named for females: women or goddesses.

Like all tessera regions, it sits above the surrounding terrain at an elevation of 1 to 2 kilometers, and is heavily deformed by what appears to be contractional folding.

An infrared map prepared by the Venus Express orbiter shows that the rocks on the Alpha Regio plateau are lighter in colour and look old compared to the majority of the planet.