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  Image: Geographic Location Direction Photo #: ISS055-E-70602 Date: May 2018
Geographic Region: SAMOA ISLANDS
Feature: APIA, SUN GLINT, PACIFIC ISLANDS

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  Savai'i and Upolu in Sunglint

This photograph, taken from the International Space Station as it passed over the South Pacific Ocean, captures the two largest Samoan Islands as they were highlighted by the optical effect of sunglint.

Savai'i, the westernmost Samoan Island, is 80 kilometers (50 miles) long; Upolu is nearly as long (74 kilometers/46 miles). The dark green centers of the islands reflect the denser tropical forests and higher elevations in comparison to the lower, light-green coastal regions around the edges.

The top of Mount Silisili, an active volcano, forms the center of Savai'i and is the highest point at 1,858 meters (6,095 feet). Savai'i's elevation likely contributes to a wind shadow on the west side of the island; this shows up as a region with no sunglint, indicating a smooth water surface. Upolu's highest point, Mount Fito, reaches 1,100 meters (3,608 feet).

The narrow stretch of water separating the islands is known as Apolima Strait. Coral reef ecosystems surround the islands and appear as light-blue regions due to shallow water depths. (These are reminiscent of the waters surrounding the Bahamas.) While ferries and ships use the Apolima Strait for tourism and commerce, swimmers also sometimes race across the strait, which is about 22 kilometers (14 miles) wide.

Both islands are volcanic in origin, with nutrient-rich basaltic soils that are good for farming. According to the 2015 Report by the Samoa Agriculture Survey, 97 percent of Samoan households grow crops; of these, 60 to 70 percent grow taro root or coconuts. Located on the north side of Upolu, Apia is the capital of Samoa and the center for export and commerce of these crops.

 
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Images: All Available Images Low-Resolution 333k
Mission: ISS055  
Roll - Frame: E - 70602
Geographical Name: SAMOA ISLANDS  
Features: APIA, SUN GLINT, PACIFIC ISLANDS  
Center Lat x Lon: 14S x 172W
Film Exposure:   N=Normal exposure, U=Under exposed, O=Over exposed, F=out of Focus
Percentage of Cloud Cover-CLDP: 10
 
Camera: N8
 
Camera Tilt: 21   LO=Low Oblique, HO=High Oblique, NV=Near Vertical
Camera Focal Length: 70  
 
Nadir to Photo Center Direction: NE   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: 20180513   YYYYMMDD
Time: 213251   GMT HHMMSS
Nadir Lat: 15.1S  
Latitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Nadir Lon: 172.9W  
Longitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Sun Azimuth: 41   Clockwise angle in degrees from north to the sun measured at the nadir point
Space Craft Altitude: 220   nautical miles
Sun Elevation: 46   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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