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July 21, 2024 - Lake Iznik in Bloom
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A summertime bloom turned Türkiye’s Lake Iznik turquoise in mid-July 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true0color image of the stunning scene on July 17.
Located southeast of the Sea of Marmara in the Province of Bursa, Lake Iznik spans about 300 square kilometers (116 square miles), making it the fifth-largest lake in Türkiye. The lake’s waters are normally a deep blue but on occasion will become colorful, thanks to the growth of small plant-like organisms called phytoplankton. While the organisms live in these waters in relatively small numbers year-round, when conditions are favorable, they can reproduce rapidly to create large blooms that can be seen from space.
Although local media states that the color is coming from floating algae, which is a type of phytoplankton, it appears that the change in color has boosted tourism. The Mayor of Iznik, Mehmet Kağan was quoted in the Daily Sabah as saying, “This unusual beauty of our lake contributes greatly to the promotion of Iznik. Our people and guests are enjoying this beautiful view."
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/17/2024
Resolutions:
1km (39.8 KB), 500m (79.7 KB), 250m (175.2 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A summertime bloom turned Türkiye’s Lake Iznik turquoise in mid-July 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true0color image of the stunning scene on July 17.
Located southeast of the Sea of Marmara in the Province of Bursa, Lake Iznik spans about 300 square kilometers (116 square miles), making it the fifth-largest lake in Türkiye. The lake’s waters are normally a deep blue but on occasion will become colorful, thanks to the growth of small plant-like organisms called phytoplankton. While the organisms live in these waters in relatively small numbers year-round, when conditions are favorable, they can reproduce rapidly to create large blooms that can be seen from space.
Although local media states that the color is coming from floating algae, which is a type of phytoplankton, it appears that the change in color has boosted tourism. The Mayor of Iznik, Mehmet Kağan was quoted in the Daily Sabah as saying, “This unusual beauty of our lake contributes greatly to the promotion of Iznik. Our people and guests are enjoying this beautiful view."
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/17/2024
Resolutions:
1km (39.8 KB), 500m (79.7 KB), 250m (175.2 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
