Volga River Delta and Caspian Sea

This true-color MODIS image from May 10, 2002, captures Russia’s Volga River (running south through the center) emptying into the northern portion of the Caspian Sea. The waters of the Caspian Sea are quite murky in this image, highlighting the water quality problems plaguing the sea. The sea is inundated with sewage and industrial and agricultural waste, which is having measurable impact on human health and wildlife. According reports from the Department of Energy, in less than a decade the sturgeon catch dropped from 30,000 tons to just over 2,000 tons. National and international groups are currently joining together to find strategies of dealing with the environmental problems of the Caspian Sea.

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

Published June 12, 2002
Data acquired June 4 - 4, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response