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  Image: Geographic Location Direction Photo #: ISS052-E-8757 Date: Jun. 2017
Geographic Region: USA-UTAH
Feature: POTASH MINE, COLORADO R., MOAB, POTASH POND, PARADOX BASIN

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  Solar Evaporation Ponds near Moab, Utah

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photograph of solar evaporation ponds outside the city of Moab, Utah. There are 23 colorful ponds spread across 400 acres. They are part of a large operation to mine potassium chloride - more commonly referred to as muriate of potash (MOP) - from ore buried underground. MOP is in high demand as fertilizer because there are no easy substitutes for potassium, an essential nutrient for plant growth.

Each pond color indicates a different state of evaporation. The deep, royal blue color is due to a dye that is added to a full pond of potash brine and water in order to speed up the rate of heat absorption. The seafoam green colors indicate shallower waters (with less dye) that are well into the evaporation process. The tan colored ponds are nearly dry; salt crystals (the final product) are left over in the pond and ready for collection.

Shadows cast on the landscape show the depth and dimension of the surrounding Utah desert. The Colorado Plateau stands at an average elevation of 1600 meters (5200 feet) above mean sea level, in contrast with the Colorado River Valley, with an average elevation of 1200 meters (3900 feet). The darker areas along the river bank are rich in green desert vegetation. Hatch Point Road leads to a scenic overlook for viewing the Cane Creek Anticline.

 
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Images: All Available Images Low-Resolution 514k
Mission: ISS052  
Roll - Frame: E - 8757
Geographical Name: USA-UTAH  
Features: POTASH MINE, COLORADO R., MOAB, POTASH POND, PARADOX BASIN  
Center Lat x Lon: 38.5N x 109.7W
Film Exposure:   N=Normal exposure, U=Under exposed, O=Over exposed, F=out of Focus
Percentage of Cloud Cover-CLDP: 0
 
Camera: N6
 
Camera Tilt: 32   LO=Low Oblique, HO=High Oblique, NV=Near Vertical
Camera Focal Length: 1150  
 
Nadir to Photo Center Direction: W   The direction from the nadir to the center point, N=North, S=South, E=East, W=West
Stereo?:   Y=Yes there is an adjacent picture of the same area, N=No there isn't
Orbit Number:  
 
Date: 20170626   YYYYMMDD
Time: 213153   GMT HHMMSS
Nadir Lat: 38.8N  
Latitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Nadir Lon: 107.5W  
Longitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Sun Azimuth: 253   Clockwise angle in degrees from north to the sun measured at the nadir point
Space Craft Altitude: 217   nautical miles
Sun Elevation: 57   Angle in degrees between the horizon and the sun, measured at the nadir point
Land Views:  
Water Views:  
Atmosphere Views:  
Man Made Views:  
City Views:  
Photo is not associated with any sequences


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