Earth from Space - Image Information


LOCATION Direction Photo #: ISS012-E-11144 Date: Dec. 2005
Geographic Region: SPAIN
Feature: SIERRA NEVADA,GRANADA


IMAGE
 
Sierra Nevada, Spain

The Sierra Nevada, part of the Betic Cordillera of southern Spain, were formed during the Alpine Orogeny, a mountain-building event that also formed the European Alps to the east and the Atlas Mountains of northern Africa across the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The Sierra as observed today formed during the Tertiary Period (65 to 1.8 million years ago) from the collision of the African and Eurasian continental plates. The former Tethys Sea also closed during this time period; the Mediterranean Sea is the largest surviving remnant basin of the ancient Tethys.

The Sierra Nevada in the Granada province of Spain are perhaps the southernmost skiing location in all of Europe. Veleta Peak, at an elevation of 3,398 meters (11,148 feet) above sea level, is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. The rapid transition from lofty ski runs to Mediterranean beaches within a few hours' drive has made the Sierra Nevada region popular for both outdoor and urban tourism. This astronaut photograph depicts the Veleta Peak region of the range and illustrates the sharp contrast between the snow-capped mountains, adjacent dry lowlands to the west and north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.



Images: All Available Images Low-Resolution 298k
Mission: ISS012  
Roll - Frame: E - 11144
Geographical Name: SPAIN  
Features: SIERRA NEVADA,GRANADA  
Center Lat x Lon: 37.0N x 3.5W
Film Exposure:   N=Normal exposure, U=Under exposed, O=Over exposed, F=out of Focus
Percentage of Cloud Cover-CLDP: 10
 
Camera:: E4
 
Camera Tilt: 45   LO=Low Oblique, HO=High Oblique, NV=Near Vertical
Camera Focal Length: 180  
 
Nadir to Photo Center Direction: N   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: 357  
 
Date: 20051211   YYYYMMDD
Time: 093648   GMT HHMMSS
Nadir Lat: 33.9N  
Latitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Nadir Lon: 3.7W  
Longitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Sun Azimuth: 142   Clockwise angle in degrees from north to the sun measured at the nadir point
Space Craft Altitude: 188   nautical miles
Sun Elevation: 23   Angle in degrees between the horizon and the sun, measured at the nadir point
Land Views: BASIN, MOUNTAIN, RANGE  
Water Views: SEA  
Atmosphere Views:  
Man Made Views:  
City Views:  

Photo is not associated with any sequences


NASA
Home Page
JSC
Home Page
JSC Digital
Image Collection
Earth Science &
Remote Sensing

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