Start Date: End Date: Published Date Data Date
Data acquired May 16 - 16, 2003 1050 x 800 82 KB - JPEG
Data acquired May 16 - 16, 2003 2100 x 1600 245 KB - JPEG
The equator cuts through the very north end of the largest of the Galapagos Islands, pictured here in a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from May 16, 2003. These tropical islands are located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador, and their volcanic origin is revealed by the remains of dark brown lava flows visible along many of the islands´ coasts. The biggest island is Isla Isabela, with Isla Fernandina to the west and Isla San Salvador to the east. To the southeast of San Salvador is Isla Santa Cruz, with the much smaller Isla Santa Maria to the south. The easternmost island is Isla Cristobal, with Isla Espanola to its southwest. Several other smaller islands are part of this chain, famous for the insights the islands´ unique flora and fauna provided to the naturalist Charles Darwin as he developed his theory of evolution by natural selection.
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC
Published July 4, 2003 Data acquired May 16 - 16, 2003