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August 28, 2026 - Salty Botswana
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On August 25, 2026, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) acquired this false-color image of Botswana’s famous Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The largest and shallowest pan in the west is Ntwetwe Pan, while Sua Pan sits in the east.
In true-color images, these barely-wet salt pans usually appear uniformly white in color, especially in the midst of the dry season. In contrast, this false color image shows a more detailed look at the composition of the pans. Here, water appears blue, with deeper water showing up as a darker blue while shallow water looks pale. In addition, dry salt appears white, vegetation is green, open land shows as tan, while burn scars (the area left behind after fire) appear as spotty dark tan marks in the landscape.
The salt pans are the remnants of an ancient lake, Lake Makgadikgadi, which spanned between 80,000 and 275,000 square kilometers (30,900 to 106,200 square miles) at peak expanse. Eventually, tectonic shifting caused changes in elevation that changed the course of the rivers that fed the lake. With the inflow of fresh water staunched, the lake water began to evaporate, and the remnant water became more saline. Eventually, little remained except salt-laden mineral crusts on very shallow lake beds that hold very scant water, except during the wet season, which typically begins in November.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 8/25/2026
Resolutions:
1km (104.9 KB), 500m (237.8 KB), 250m (116.2 KB)
Bands Used: 7,2,1
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On August 25, 2026, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) acquired this false-color image of Botswana’s famous Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The largest and shallowest pan in the west is Ntwetwe Pan, while Sua Pan sits in the east.
In true-color images, these barely-wet salt pans usually appear uniformly white in color, especially in the midst of the dry season. In contrast, this false color image shows a more detailed look at the composition of the pans. Here, water appears blue, with deeper water showing up as a darker blue while shallow water looks pale. In addition, dry salt appears white, vegetation is green, open land shows as tan, while burn scars (the area left behind after fire) appear as spotty dark tan marks in the landscape.
The salt pans are the remnants of an ancient lake, Lake Makgadikgadi, which spanned between 80,000 and 275,000 square kilometers (30,900 to 106,200 square miles) at peak expanse. Eventually, tectonic shifting caused changes in elevation that changed the course of the rivers that fed the lake. With the inflow of fresh water staunched, the lake water began to evaporate, and the remnant water became more saline. Eventually, little remained except salt-laden mineral crusts on very shallow lake beds that hold very scant water, except during the wet season, which typically begins in November.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 8/25/2026
Resolutions:
1km (104.9 KB), 500m (237.8 KB), 250m (116.2 KB)
Bands Used: 7,2,1
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
