2023-05-30 16:00:00
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An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photograph of a group of islands in the Gulf of California, near the southeastern border of Baja California Sur. Sunlight is reflected on the surface of the water, accentuating the movement of the waves, the wakes of the ships and the shadows of the clouds.
The archipelago comprises two large islands, Espiritu Santo and La Partida, as well as several smaller surrounding islands: La Ballena, El Gallo, La Gallina, and Los Islotes. The islands appear rust-colored due to past tectonic and volcanic activity that deposited layers of black lava and pinkish volcanic ash.
The Baja California peninsula acts as a natural breakwater against wind and waves, which protects the islands of the Gulf of California from erosion. The slower erosion has resulted in the preservation of caves and rock shelters. The exploration and excavation of these refuges contribute to the understanding of the geomorphology, geology and ancient patterns of human activity on the islands. Archaeologists have found human artifacts dating back about ten thousand years, providing evidence of human activity on these islands.
As part of the Unesco World Heritage Sites in the Gulf of California, the islands and the waters surrounding them are protected to support migrating birds, endemic species and marine life. The diverse wetlands and preserved reef systems provide food and shelter for many species, including the endemic antelope squirrel, bluespotted mouthfish, and black-tailed tree lizard. There is also a diverse population of birds in the area, including brown pelicans, brown herons, and hummingbirds.
Astronaut photography ISS067-E-286000 was acquired on August 20, 2022, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a 400-millimeter focal length. It was provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observation Facility and the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Earth Sciences and Remote Sensing Unit. The image was taken by an Expedition 67 crew member. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports this laboratory as part of the ISS National Laboratory to help astronauts take photographs of Earth that are of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images available. for free on the internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed on the NASA/JSC Astronaut Photographs of Earth Portal. Photo caption by Sara Schmidt, GeoControl Systems, under JETS contract at NASA-JSC.
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