August 23, 2018 - Torres Strait

Torres Strait

On August 10, 2018, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a stunning true-color image of the Torres Strait.

Separating the island of New Guinea from the northern tip of Australia, the Torres Strait measures merely 93 miles (150 km) wide at the narrowest point. There are approximately 274 islands situated in the Torres Strait, some of which are quite small. A number of coral reefs sit within the Strait and the northern edge of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef reaches the eastern boundaries. The islands, reefs, and surrounding waters are home to many rare and unique species, including saltwater crocodiles and the endangered dugong.

Image Facts
Satellite: Terra
Date Acquired: 8/10/2018
Resolutions: 1km (202.7 KB), 500m (518.5 KB), 250m (363.8 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC