January 11, 2010 - Fires in Colombia and Venezuela

Fires in Colombia and Venezuela

In eastern Columbia (left) and northern Venezuela (right), a vast stretch of grassland plains called the Llanos rests at the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The MODIS on the Terra satellite detected numerous fires (red dots) scattered across the region on January 2, 2010, which is when this image was taken.

There are several rivers visible in the image. Near the borders of the two countries, you can see the Meta running across Colombia towards the border - where the border forms a diagonal line is where the Meta meets it. Where the Meta leaves the Columbia-Venezuela border, it is joined by the Atabapo River and becomes the Orinoco, which flows out to meet the Atlantic.

Towards the south, the grasses of the llanos give way to the upper reaches of the Amazon Rainforest. South of the Meta River is the Guaviare. Further south there are rivers that stand out even more from the landscape. Across the border from Colombia into Brazil is the Japura and south of that, the Amazon. The Japura enters the Amazon through several different channels.

Image Facts
Satellite: Terra
Date Acquired: 01/02/2010
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC