Earth from Space - Image Description

STS078-760-004 Roanoke Area, Virginia, USA June 1996 Situated among outlying hills and the more massive folded, parallel ridge and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains, the physical setting of the city of Roanoke (highly reflective area center of the picture) is captured in this south looking color infrared shot. The dense green foliage of the mountainous terrain is shown as a deep reddish color. Most of the lower and flatter valleys are used for some form of agriculture. A single, dark, crescent-shaped reservoir within a small, elevated valley is just northwest of Roanoke. The Roanoke River meanders southeasterly from the city towards Smith Mountain Lake.

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