NASA on Thursday shared some stunning images of the Earth as viewed from space and the pictures have gone viral.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Thursday shared some stunning images of the Earth as viewed from space and the pictures have gone viral.
The pictures, which were shared on NASA's official Instagram account, were taken from the vantage point of the International Space Station.
"In these stunning images, the natural systems – land, water, air, ice – connect to each other to bring life. No matter whether we are on land or in space, we are unified by this tiny blue planet – and that’s something to celebrate," reads a part of the caption shared by NASA alongside the pictures.
1. Bombetoka Bay, Madagascar
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The first photo in the series is of Bombetoka Bay in Madagascar. Describing it, the caption read, "On the northwestern coast of Madagascar, the salty waters of the Mozambique Channel flow inland joining the freshwater outflow of the Betsiboka River, forming Bombetoka Bay...The sapphire water is tinged with pink where sediment is particularly thick, and dense vegetation adds a rich green pigment to the landscape." (Image: Instagram/NASA)
2. Richat Structure, Mauritania
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The second image was that of Richat Structure in Mauritania. The so-called Richat Structure is a geological formation in the Maur Adrar Desert in the African country of Mauritania. Although it resembles an impact crater, the Richat Structure formed when a volcanic dome hardened and gradually eroded, exposing the onion-like layers of rock. (Image: Instagram/NASA)
3. Everglades of South Florida
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The third image was of the Everglades of South Florida. Florida’s Everglades National Park is not your ordinary protected area. Its unique ecosystem is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance. (Image: Instagram/NASA)
4. The Frozen Wild Dnieper River
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The fourth photo in the series was that of the frozen Dnieper river in Europe. A blog post by NASA said that the image was captured by European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, from ISS on February 9, 2017. About the photo, Thomas said, "Winter landscapes are also magical from the International Space Station: this river north of Kiev reminds me of a Hokusai painting." (Image: Instagram/NASA)
5. Blue dunes on Mars
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Earlier, the US space agency had also shared a stunning image of the sea of dunes on Mars which has been sculpted by the wind into long striations and is surrounding Mars' northern polar cap. According to the caption, it covers an area as big as Texas. (Image: Instagram/NASA)
