Earth from Space - Image Description

STS056-077-035 Estancia Basin, Central New Mexico, U.S.A. April 1993
The highly reflective dry lakes of Laguna del Perro in the geographic center of New Mexico are apparent in this northwest-looking photograph. Lying between sand dune ridges, these salt lakes are part of the larger Estancia Basin, which is made up of sand hills and old sand dunes. The dark Gallinas Mountains, with Gallinas Peak reaching 8637 feet (2633 meters), lie to the south of Laguna del Perro. Part of the north-south-aligned Manzano Mountains, with Manzano Peak reaching 10 089 feet (3078 meters), is visible (top center of the photograph). The northern extension of a dark, ribbonlike lava flow is apparent to the south.

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