Northwest Peru - related image preview

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Northwest Peru

In northwestern Peru, the Sechura Desert illustrates the hyper-arid conditions created along the west coast of Peru and northern Chile by the cold ocean currents welling up along the coast. These cold waters provide little in the way of evaporation that would ultimately end up as rain, and deserts like the Sechura (southwest of center) are the result. Intermingled with the dry barren landscape are rivers and streams that run out of the High peaks of the Andes, bringing pockets of water and vegetation to small areas. At the top of the image is Ecuador. This MODIS image was acquired on May 30, 2002.


Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published June 2, 2002
Data acquired May 30 - 30, 2002

Source:
Terra > MODIS
Topics:
Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Deserts
Biosphere > Terrestrial Habitat > Desert
Collection:
Visible Earth