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Lake Baikal (Baykal) and Irkutsk, Russia (November 1994)

STS066-155-152

The largest freshwater lake and the deepest lake in the world, Baikal (Baykal), can be seen in this south-looking, low-oblique photograph. This view offers a look at the southern portion of the lake and the snow-covered Khamar Daban Range south of the lake. The lake’s only outlet, the Angara River, is obvious near the center of the photograph, progressing northward toward the snow-covered city of Irkutsk. The great volume of water from the Angara River is harnessed by one of the largest hydroelectric dams in Eurasia located just south of Irkutsk (visible in the photograph). Irkutsk is an industrial city, a port, and a major stop on the Trans-Siberian Railroad route. Aircraft, automobiles, machine tools, textiles, chemicals, food processing, and metals are some of the manufacturing industries within the city. Founded as a cossack fortress in 1654, Irkutsk became the capital of eastern Siberia in 1822. Siberia has been a place of exile since the 18th century. In the mid-1960s, Russian scientists and writers denounced and halted the construction of a large pulp and paper mill on the south shore of Lake Baikal because they opposed polluting the lake with the mill’s waste products. These waste products could have upset the balance of nature and killed many of the plants and animals (found nowhere else in the world) that live in the lake and on shores.

Lake Chad (South Basin), Chad (December 1993)

STS061-075-022

Lake Chad, which belongs to the countries of Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger, is a sedimentary basin that is controlled by climate and rainfall. The lake is divided into two basins—the south basin fed by the Chari River and the north basin fed by the Komadougou River. The south basin, with its delta along the southern shore, has a distinct advantage in that the Sahel (a transition zone between the true desert and the grasslands south of the desert) generally receives more precipitation than the region west of Lake Chad that provides recharge water for the north basin. The south basin’s water level has remained relatively constant during the decades of 1980s and 1990s, while the north basin has shown little evidence of standing water since the late 1960s and early 1970s. Extensive sand dunes exist within the northern half of the south basin, but there appears to be vegetation in this area. (Refer to STS-061-075-023 for a view of the north basin of Lake Chad.)

Lake Eyasi, Tanzania (May 1993)

STS055-093-038

Lake Eyasi, located south of the Serengeti National Park and immediately southwest of the Ngorongoro Crater, is one of several lakes on the floor of the East African Rift Valley. The southwest flank of Ngorongoro Volcano drains into the northeast end of the lake. Although the southwestern quarter of the lake is not included in this photograph, the lake is generally rectangular, except the indented southeast side, which appears to be shallower because sediment has filled in the shore. Most of the former shoreline can be identified by the color change around the fairly steep embanked perimeter of the lake. Seasonal water level fluctuations in the lake are dramatic, perhaps indicating that Lake Eyasi is relatively shallow even during periods of maximum water levels. This photograph shows some dark water in the northeast part of the lake; however, recent Space Shuttle photographs have shown Eyasi to be almost devoid of water.

Lake Issyk-Kul’, Kyrgystan (September 1992)

STS047-077-082

Lake Issyk-Kul’, located in northeastern Kyrgystan, is a brackish lake surrounded by many of the lesser mountain ranges that comprise the formidable Tien Shan Range. Issyk-Kul’, whose surface is approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) above sea level, is an extremely deep lake, measuring 2303 feet (700 meters) at its deepest point. It is approximately 115 miles (195 kilometers) long and 38 miles (60 kilometers) at its maximum width. Cultivated field patterns can be seen around the periphery of the lake, with the most concentrated areas on the delta that has formed along the eastern end of the lake. The snowcapped mountain ranges to the north and south have peaks that vary in elevation from 13 000 to more than 18 000 feet (3960 to 5490 meters) above sea level. Practically all of the water needed for agriculture is obtained from the runoff from glaciers and snowmelt.

Lake Pukaki & Lake Tekapo, New Zealand (April 1993)

STS056-101-064

This spectacular, north-northeast-looking, low-oblique photograph shows the high country of the Southern Alps and two glacier-fed lakes, Pukaki and Tekapo. Visible near the northwest corner of the photograph is Mount Cook, the highest peak in the Southern Alps at 12 349 feet (3766 meters). East of Mount Cook is the largest glacier in New Zealand, the Tasman Glacier, 18 miles (29 kilometers) long and more than 1 mile (2 kilometers) wide. The Southern Alps, paralleling the west coast of South Island, are extensively glaciated with many deep gorges. Of the 3155 active glaciers in the Southern Alps, most are within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of Mount Cook. From Tasman Glacier, the braided Tasman River can be seen flowing southward into beautiful Lake Pukaki. The lake is more than 9 miles (15 kilometers) long and covers 32 square miles (83 square kilometers). Its brilliant turquoise color results from finely ground "rock flour" being suspended in the water. East of the Tasman River, the braided Godley River flows into Lake Tekapo, a beautiful lake occupying a vast hollow in downs and terraces of golden tussock grass. Though a hydroelectric control structure now contains the waters of the lake at its southern end, Lake Tekapo owes its origin to the natural dam of an old moraine. East of Lake Tekapo, the agricultural lands of the fertile Canterbury Plain spread toward the coast.

Lake Titicaca, Bolivia and Peru (June 1993)

STS057-075-046

Lake Titicaca, the largest freshwater lake in South America, can be seen in this low-oblique, southeast-looking photograph. Lake Titicaca is located in a depression in the Altiplano (high plains) between the eastern (greenish, forest-covered mountains east of the lake, partially obscured by clouds) and the western (brownish area west of the lake with numerous volcanic peaks) range of the Andes Mountains. Lake Titicaca covers an area of 3200 square miles (8300 square kilometers), is nearly 120 miles (190 kilometers) long, and has an average width of 45 miles (72 kilometers). Fed by many mountain streams that border the Altiplano, the lake is drained only by the Desaguadero River, which flows south into Lake Poop� (not visible in the photograph). Water levels can vary as much as 16 feet (5 meters) from season to season and year to year. Much of the lake water is lost through evaporation caused by intense sunshine and strong winds. Since the late 1980s, drought has plagued this region of the Altiplano, causing water levels in the lake to drop below normal. The whitish areas scattered around the lakeshore are newly exposed lake bottom areas. A small tail-like portion at the northern end of the lake (visible in the photograph) has been cut off from the main body of the lake because the water level has receded. Drastic drops in water level in the lake could eventually affect the moderating climate of this high-altitude lake 12 500 feet (3800 meters) above sea level, which could lead to reduced agricultural crop yields. The agricultural crops of wheat and maize help sustain many Indians that live along Lake Titicaca’s shores. (Refer to STS-51G-037-0028 for an earlier photograph and description of Lake Titicaca.)

Lake Urmia, Iran (October 1984)

STS41G-037-0084

Lake Urmia is an isolated lake in Azerbaijan Province in northwest Iran. The total area of the lake is 1815 square miles (4700 square kilometers), and the north-south length is about 90 miles (145 kilometers). The maximum depth of the shallow, saline lake is approximately 50 feet (15 meters). Climatically, the lake region is located in a semiarid, almost desert environment, with general precipitation averaging 12 inches (30 centimeters) per year. Topographically, the entire region is either plateau or mountain. The surface of the lake is approximately 4100 feet (1250 meters) above sea level with several of the individual volcanic peaks reaching more than 7000 feet (2134 meters) above sea level. The massive, rugged mountain range west of the lake has ridges that exceed 11 000 feet (3353 meters) above sea level. Agricultural patterns are visible in several delta areas around the lake (darker signatures). Sediment patterns can be seen along the southern end of the lake near the salt flats and the delta areas. The highly reflective area along the eastern shore of the lake appears to be either the development of salt deposits along the shoreline or the receding water level in the lake, which exposes more shoreline. The narrow linear features jutting into the lake from opposing shorelines (toward the middle of the lake) could not be identified, but appear to be manmade.

Lake Volta, Ghana (April 1993)

STS056-090-079

This low-oblique, southeast-looking photograph of Lake Volta (Volta Reservoir) provides a rare opportunity to see almost the entire reservoir with very few obscuring clouds. Lake Volta, one of the world’s largest manmade lakes, occupies a large area of southern Ghana—approximately 3275 square miles (8480 square kilometers) 280 miles (450 kilometers) upstream of the Akosombo Dam. Water impounded in this reservoir is used to irrigate crops, regulate the flow of water in Volta River, and generate hydroelectric power that supports an aluminum industry in Ghana. The Sun reflecting off the surface of the water (sunglint) helps identify and map the land-water boundaries.

Lanai and Molokai, Hawaii (September 1988)

STS026-041-008

The islands of Lanai and Molokai in the Hawaiian Island chain can be seen in this north-looking, low-oblique photograph. The islands are volcanic in origin, edged with coral reefs, and feature mild climates and generally fertile soils. Lanai Island, the smaller of the two islands with 141 square miles (365 square kilometers), is separated from Molokai by the Kalohi Channel. The island was originally used for growing sugarcane and grazing cattle. The entire island was purchased in 1922 by a large pineapple company and developed as a pineapple growing center. Molokai, covering 262 square miles (676 square kilometers), is 40 miles (64 kilometers) long and 7 miles (11 kilometers) wide. The generally hilly island, with volcanic mountains at both ends, has many cattle ranches and pineapple plantations. On the north coast, separated from the rest of the island by a rocky mountain wall and accessible only by passing over a 2000-foot (610-meter) pass, is Kalaupapa Peninsula (approximately at the center of the shoreline). This peninsula was the site of a Government leper colony established in 1860 by Father Damien, a Belgian missionary, who was the administrator of the colony until his death.

La Palma Island, Canary Islands (September 1992)

STS047-085-092

Volcanic, mountainous La Palma, covering 280 square miles (725 square kilometers), dominates this east-looking, low-oblique photograph. The large caldera near the center of the island is the remains of the collapsed, extinct Roque de los Muchachos Volcano. Tourism and agriculture are the major industries; sugar cane is the main agricultural crop, but other crops include bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco. Irrigation is important, especially in the coastal and lowland regions where rainfall is minimal. Industrial development is limited on the island by the lack of water. Santa Cruz de la Palma, the chief city and port, is located on the eastern side of the island. Because of predominating eastern winds and ocean currents, an island wake is discernible on the western side of the island.

Lesbos Island, Greece (September 1995)

STS073-722-051

This low-oblique, north-looking photograph captures Lesbos (L�svos), the largest of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Lesbos, with a rather hilly terrain, extremely fertile soils, and a mild climate, covers 630 square miles (1630 square kilometers) off the northwest coast of Turkey. Vast olive groves, numerous vineyards, citrus trees, and wheat crops are scattered throughout the island. Other industries include fishing (sardines), oil refining, soap production, livestock raising, and marble quarrying. Mitil�ni, the chief city, is located on the island’s southeast coast (barely discernible in the photograph). Visible near the center of the photograph is the Gulf of Kallon�s. Lesbos was the center of the Bronze Age and the cultural center of Greek civilization in the seventh century B.C.

Lop Nur (Salt Lake), China (September 1992)

STS047-153-193

Lop Nur, on the Tarim Basin’s eastern edge in western China’s Zinjiang Province, was created by a series of water level oscillations within the former lake. The concentric rings formed as the water evaporated from the lake and left various mineral deposits, including highly reflective salts, along the new shoreline. The former lake, which now resembles a giant ear, is large enough for Space Shuttle astronauts to use as an identifiable landmark from orbital altitudes. Two entrenched drainage streambeds flow north toward the salt lake. Little water appears to have been transported to Lop Nur through these watercourses for many years. Visible are a small plateau approximately 3000 feet (915 meters) above the terrain south of Lop Nur and extensive sand dunes and sand ridges to the southeast.

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