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Taiwan (November 1994)

Taiwan November 1994

The island of Taiwan (National Republic of China) has a population of more than 21 million in an area the size of Switzerland; this photograph shows the northern half of the island. Most of the inhabitants live along the plains that extend along the entire west coast. T’ai-pei, the capital with a population of almost 3 million, is located near the northern tip of the island. The small scale of the photograph and the gross resolution allow only identification of the general location of the urban area at the northern end of the island. Many short rivers that drain east and west arise in the Chungyang Mountains that extend for almost the entire length of the country. The mountains of Taiwan, with some of the central ranges rising to altitudes of more than 10 000 feet (3000 meters), are young and still actively undergoing tectonic movement. Taiwan is bordered on the west by the Taiwan Strait, which separates the country from mainland China (People’s Republic of China), and on the east by the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan is an amazing economic success story; along with Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore, it is considered to be one of the "Pacific Rim Economic Tigers."

Tanezrouft, Algeria (October 1992)

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The Tanezrouft region in south-central Algeria is known as the "Land of Thirst" and the "Land of Terror." The Tanezrouft region, a western extension of the more massive Ahaggar Mountains to the east, is comprised of sandstone formations, whereas the Ahaggar Mountains are metamorphic in origin. The physiography of the region is dark sandstone hills with many steep canyon walls rising 800 to 1600 feet (250 to 500 meters) above the surrounding arid terrain; sandy areas with dune fields; and numerous sandstone outcrop patterns of concentric loops and ellipses. The reddish color of some of the sand results from metal oxides being dissolved from the parent rocks. Rainfall amounts in the Tanezrouft area rarely exceed 3 inches (8 centimeters) annually. In an earlier geologic period the region experienced substantial water erosion; now the landscape is being modified by wind erosion. Since there is very little vegetation in the area, wind erosion is a serious environmental degradation process.

Tassili N’ Ajjer, Algeria (October 1992)

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The northeastern extension of the Tassili N’ Ajjer is an austere, beautiful desert. From the dark, heavily eroded sandstone plateau in the southwestern quadrant of the photograph to the numerous drainage valleys filled with scattered sand sheets and sand dunes, the vivid desert colors range from dull red to black. The wide variety of colors results from desert varnish, which is a thin layer of metallic oxides dissolved from the rocks and deposited on the surface as a stain. This area in southeast Algeria is strategic because it is on the Algeria-Libya border. The border is visible near the center of the photograph in the gray area where very narrow lines could be a roadway, a fence line, or a combination of the two.

800 DPI

Tenerife Island, Canary Islands (August 1991)

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Tenerife Island, the largest in the Canary Island archipelago, is approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) long and 32 miles (54 kilometers) at its widest point. With Pico de Teide, its volcanic peak, rising 12 198 feet (3718 meters) above the sea, Tenerife has the distinction of having the highest elevation in the Atlantic Ocean. This near-vertical photograph of the entire island, except for the northeastern tip, showcases the prominent caldera, which measures approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) by 7 miles (11 kilometers). Within the large caldera, young volcanic cones and small craters rise from the older volcano that was probably destroyed by a gigantic explosion millions of years ago. The classic radial erosion drainage pattern is obvious around the old volcanic cone. The island, with its precipitous coastline, has a mild and pleasant climate; however, it is subject to severe drought and occasional tornadoes. The fertile soils produce a variety of crops—date palms, grapes, fruits, sugarcane, grains, and cotton.

Tifernine Dunes, Algeria (July 1995)

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The Tassili N’ Ajjer of southeastern Algeria consists of large areas of sand dunes and substantial areas of sandstone bedrock outcrops. This photograph vividly displays the differences between these two major landforms. The orange, complex, linear Tifernine Dunes with superimposed star dunes were named for the intermittently-flowing, south-to-north Tifernine watercourse along the southwestern extent of the dunes. This very distinctive alignment of sand dunes provides Space Shuttle astronauts a land reference in the much larger Sahara Desert. The dark, weathered sandstone rocks that border the Tifernine Dunes to the east and southwest have deep, narrow ravines that comprise a well-entrenched drainage pattern through the higher elevations of the plateau southwest of the dune field. This erosion process began millions of years ago when the climate was much wetter. This region now receives less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of rainfall annually.

Tokyo, Japan (October 1993)

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The Tokyo-Yokohama-Kawasaki urban area is the world’s largest metropolis. The area’s combined 1990 population exceeded 26 million. The docking facilities around the periphery of Tokyo Bay reflect the country’s emphasis on international trade. Although volcanism, earthquakes, and plate tectonics modify the physiography of Japan, no volcanoes are visible in this photograph. The Tokyo region has a dynamic environmental history because of its proximity to the intersection of three major, active tectonic plates (Eurasian, Pacific, and Philippine) that collide southwest of Tokyo Bay. Much of the industrial infrastructure around Tokyo Bay has been built on landfill materials, from which artificial islands are sometimes created. Because landfill materials can liquefy during earthquakes, there is concern that a major earthquake could generate tremendous destruction in this densely populated area. In spite of strict building regulations that have been imposed during recent decades, a major earthquake could have a calamitous impact on this area and all of Japan.

Troitsk, Russia (April 1994)

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Troitsk is a relatively small city (1990 population estimated at 90 000) located on a tributary of the upper Tobol River approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of Chelyabinsk. Troitsk serves as a railroad junction and a supply and trading center for the southern Ural Mountains mining district. The Russia-Kazakhstan border is immediately south of Troitsk (and is included in this photograph). Several large, cultivated field patterns (elongated, rectangular shapes) are visible through the snow-covered landscape. Because the fields are large, it can be inferred that they are probably planted with spring wheat. Numerous circular, frozen lakes are scattered throughout the countryside around Troitsk. Some of the darker areas in this photograph show the results of burning fossil fuels, both in the city and in parts of the surrounding areas. A single smoke plume rises in the center of the scene.

Typhoon Yuri, Pacific Ocean (November 1991)

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This spectacular, low-oblique photograph shows the bowl-shaped eye (center of photograph) of Typhoon Yuri in the western Pacific Ocean just west of the Northern Mariana Islands. The eye wall descends almost to the sea surface, a distance of nearly 45 000 feet (13 800 meters). In this case the eye is filled with clouds, but in many cases the sea surface can be seen through the eye. Yuri grew to super typhoon status, packing maximum sustained winds estimated at 165 miles (270 kilometers) per hour, with gusts reaching an estimated 200 miles (320 kilometers) per hour. The storm moved west toward the Philippine Islands before turning northeast into the north Pacific Ocean, thus avoiding any major landmass.

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