Image Caption: Bombetoka Bay, Madagascar
Located along the northwest coast of the world's fourth largest island, Madagascar, the Betsiboka River and its tributary streams are rapidly infilling the Bay of Bombetoka with sediment from the interior of the country. Notice within the estuary that several distributary channels have produced numerous islands. Due to the large quantity of sediment that the Betsiboka River continues to transport into the delta area, these islands are continuously changing shape and size. The darker areas on the islands and areas along sections of the coast show the extent of the mangrove forests. Erosion and the loss of vegetative cover reveal intricate drainage patterns that can be mapped from this type of image. The branching drainage pattern on the low plateau area immediately north of the Bay of Bombetoka is an excellent example. Similar erosional features can also be seen on the land along the south side of the bay. Sediment plumes that extend well into the Mozambique Channel are common. North is towards the lower right corner of the image.