Earth from Space - Image Description

STS059-214-071 Oil and Gas Fields near the Buzzan River, Russia April 1994
Oil and gas well patterns can be seen in the Akplak Desert of the Lower Volga River Basin in this northeast-looking view. The distributary streams/channels of the Lower Volga River are visible throughout the lower part of the image from left (northwest) to right (southeast). Numerous transportation routes can also be seen on the image. This region, one of the most productive oil and gas fields in Russia, is located north of the major city of Astrakhan (not visible on image) on the Buzzan River, a tributary of the Volga.

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