Earth from Space - Image Description

STS073-702-017 Rio Grande Headwaters, Colorado, U.S.A. October 1995
Apparent is the canyon eroded by the Rio Grande through the San Juan Mountains west of Del Norte (not discernible near center of the photograph) along the western edge of the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado. Sediment deposits are visible along the eastern flank of the San Juan Mountains. The two highly reflective drainage patterns north and south of the river (upper and lower left corners) appear to be accumulations of salt from evaporation. Center-pivot irrigation provides a high level of agricultural activity in the San Luis Valley.

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