Images
May 27, 2010 - Tuamotu Archipelago
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The atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago nearly blend into the dark waters around them but for their bright outlines. An atoll essentially a coral island which either partly or completely surrounds a lagoon. Tuamotu is part of French Polynesia. Lying in the South Pacific Ocean, it's actually the largest chain of atolls in the world, and spans an area around the size of Western Europe, though its actual land area is not nearly so big.
This image, captured by the MODIS on the Terra satellite on May 19, 2010 shows the western end of the archipelago. The largest island on the left is Rangiroa. There is a labeled map of the islands here.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 05/19/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago nearly blend into the dark waters around them but for their bright outlines. An atoll essentially a coral island which either partly or completely surrounds a lagoon. Tuamotu is part of French Polynesia. Lying in the South Pacific Ocean, it's actually the largest chain of atolls in the world, and spans an area around the size of Western Europe, though its actual land area is not nearly so big.
This image, captured by the MODIS on the Terra satellite on May 19, 2010 shows the western end of the archipelago. The largest island on the left is Rangiroa. There is a labeled map of the islands here.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 05/19/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
