Betsiboka Estuary

Credit: Jeff Schmaltz; MODIS team; NASA, Posted on: Thursday, 1 June 2006, 06:02 CDT Download full size image

This MODIS image shows the Betsiboka Estuary, located on the northwest coast of Madagascar. Over the last century, a great deal of Madagascar's rainforests and coastal mangroves have been cleared, resulting in increased erosion of the land.

After heavy rains, the bright red soil is washed from the hillsides into the streams and rivers. As a result, this estuary, which is the mouth of Madagascar's largest river, appears bright red.

More Images

Mars
Approaching 'Marquette Island'.NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity took this picture of a rock informally named "Marquette Is...

---

Universe
The Brightness of the Sun.The bright sun greets the International Space Station in this Nov. ...

---