Earth from Space - Image Description

STS090-755-047 Owens Dry Lake, California April 1998
Owens Lake, now a dry lakebed, can be seen in this view. The high snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada are visible to the west of the dry lake and cover the top-third of the image. The rugged snow-capped Inyo Mountains can be seen to the east of the dry lake in the lower center and lower left of the image. Owens Lake formerly held waters 18 miles (29 km) long and 10 miles (16 km) wide. The lake was fed by the Owens River, seen traversing the image from north to south. The water from the river is now taken via the Los Angeles Aqueduct to the city of Los Angeles to supplement their drinking water. The dry lakebed is a source of dust storms in the western United States.

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