Vancouver Island and the Pacific Northwest

Credit: Jeff Schmaltz; MODIS team; NASA, Posted on: Tuesday, 19 August 2008, 06:34 CDT Download full size image

This image, captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite on August 16, 2008, shows the Pacific Northwest region of the United States - as well as the parts of Canada that border it. Nestled into coastal clouds along the Pacific Northwest is Vancouver Island, part of the Canadian Province of British Columbia. At the south tip of the island is the city of Victoria, British Columbia's capital.

To the northeast, the Coast Mountains are covered in snow, while beyond them is the Fraser Plateau. Separating Vancouver Island from Washington is the Juan de Fuca Strait, named for a sailor who supposedly explored it for the Spanish in 1592. South of the island is Washington. On the eastern coast of Puget Sound, is Seattle. The state's largest city appears brownish against the deep green mountains. At the very bottom of the image is Oregon.

More Images

Mars
Swirls of Rock in Candor Chasma.This image shows spectacular layers exposed on the bottom of Candor Chasma, which is a large canyon ...

---

Universe
Dusty Wedge.The ghostly features in Saturn's B ring called spokes are making an appearance again as the Cassini ...

---