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STS046-078-026 Rondônia, Brazil August 1992 This photograph, showing the destruction of tropical rain forests, provides a visual indication of the rate of deforestation that is taking place in the state of Rondônia, which has been especially hard hit by deforestation. The amount of clear-cut area now exceeds the area of remaining rain forest timber stands. The solid dark green areas show the remaining tropical rain forest canopy. Two urban areas separated by a small river can be seen near the center of the photograph. This photograph and photograph STS-51G-034-0060, taken 7 years earlier, are representative of much larger areas where tropical rain forests are being decimated to permit farming and grazing in Brazil, Central America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. | |