The Amazon, Brazil

The Amazon River, which carries twenty percent of all river water discharged into the planet’s oceans, is featured in this true-color Terra MODIS image from September 8, 2002. Surrounding the river, which runs for approximately 4,000 miles (1 mile equals 1.6 kilometers), is the Amazonian rainforest, one of the most ecologically diverse regions on the planet. Fires, marked in red, are scattered around the river, and spidery patterns in the vegetation indicate deforestation.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published October 4, 2002
Data acquired September 8 - 8, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Topics:

Human Dimensions > Environmental Impacts > Deforestation

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires