A catalog of NASA images and animations of our home planet

• Credit:

  Jeff Schmaltz

Swirling brown sand colors over the green waters of the Aral sea in this MODIS Aqua image acquired on June 13, 2006. The Aral Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea in Central Asia, between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan to the south. An Endorheic basin is a watershed from which there is no outflow of water from it; for example, no rivers, or underground flow, or diffusion through rock. Any rain that falls into it, remains there permanently, until it evaporates. These sorts of basins are more common in hot desert locations, though they can occur in any climate.

Images & Animations

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• NASA Official: Steven E. Platnick
• Database Updated: May 7, 2013