
STS109-724-18
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Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii: The volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa
on Hawaii reflect the activity at depth of a mantle hotspot, a
topographically high region of extreme heat on the surface of the
Earth's mantle. Loihi, southeast of the Big Island, is growing and
evidence of subsea eruptions can sometimes be seen in the surrounding
waters.
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STS109-724-21
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Hawaiian Islands, Maui: Dormant volcano Haleakala, Lanai,
Molokai, Kahoolawe. These islands formed earlier over the Hawaiian
hotspot and have subsided somewhat; the Pacific plate has since moved
northwestward, and the hotspot is now feeding magma to the islands of
Hawaii.
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STS109-323-18
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Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl: Volcanoes, central Mexican
Volcanic Belt, in dawn light. Popocatepetl continues to spout ash and
gas, although it was quiet when this detailed photo was taken. This
photo and STS 109-323-20 are an excellent stereopair.
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STS109-323-27
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Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl: Volcanoes, central Mexican
Volcanic Belt, regional view to west.
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STS109-708-79
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NW Colombia, Venezuela: Rare view of the Sierra Nevada de
Santa Marta (dark, shield-shaped mountains) west of the Gulf of
Venezuela, the Guajira and the Paraguaná peninsulas. Panoramic view
of the Cordillera Oriental, Colombian Andes (foreground) an area that
is almost always obscured by clouds. Cordillera de Mérida is the
distant ENE-trending range that lies south of Lake Maracaibo. Santa
Marta massif and the Cordillera Oriental are blocks of
billion-year-old crust that have been forced up as the Nazca tectonic
plate (part of the Pacific) collides with South America.
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STS109-712-66
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Maracaibo, Venezuela: The city of Maracaibo occupies the west
bank of the strait connecting Lake Maracaibo with the Gulf of
Venezuela.
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STS109-712-73
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Venezuela: Paraguaná Peninsula, Golfete de Coro (angular patch
of muddy water). The Golfete de Coro is cross-cut by faults of the
Caribbean plate boundary system, hence the sharp, straight
shorelines. South of the gulf, details of other faults and structures
are clearly seen.
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STS109-720-75
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Colombia, Cordillera Oriental detail: Possibly the only photo
of this span of the Andes -- always cloud-covered. The Cordillera is
another block of ancient continental crust that has been forced up
during the Nazca-S. American plate collision. Lago Tota is near
center.
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STS109-724-10
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Venezuela: Llanos plains fans (compare STS109-729-89); Lake
Maracaibo in background.
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STS109-729-89
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Argentina: High desert plains ("altiplano") of the Andes Mts,
and Chaco plains-panorama looking south.
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