Earth from Space - Image Description

STS043-608-039 Miyako and Irabu Islands, Ryukyu Islands August 1991
This north-looking view shows Miyako Island and to its left (west) the smaller Irabu Island. Both are part of the Ryukyu Islands. The islands are the exposed tops of a submarine mountain range and are volcanic in origin. Miyako and Irabu Islands are generally flat with some low-undulating terrain. The land on the islands is used mostly for agriculture. Coral surrounds most of the coastlines of both islands.

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Earth Science & Remote Sensing Unit, ARES Division, Exploration Integration Science Directorate.