Earth from Space - Image Description

STS068-211-080 Carpathian Mountains, Romania October, 1994
The southern arm of the Carpathian Mountain chain that extends through central Romania is known as the Transylvanian Alps. Snow cover (white areas) on the higher elevations, generally exceeding 5000 feet (1524 meters) above sea level, helps to accentuate the ice-formed peaks and ridgelines of this range of mountains, specifically located between Brasov (north) and Ploiesti (south). Numerous tributary stream valleys have created a rugged topography. Notice that most of the drainage from the Transylvanian Alps is towards the south and southeast. The deeper red colors indicate extensive forested terrain (green vegetation is recorded as shades of red on color infrared photography) on the steep mountain slopes. Lighter reds show areas where forest cover is less dense or the trees have been removed. The gray-looking swath of land (near bottom left corner) is an intermontane valley west of Brasov. Immediately south of the valley the highest peak (8222 feet-2506 meters) in the scene is visible near the north end of the mountain range (bottom center).

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