ISS058-E-10724
| NASA Photo ID | ISS058-E-10724 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Date taken | 2019.02.06 |
| Time taken | 11:55:03 GMT |
3712 x 4124 pixels 720 x 800 pixels 3712 x 5568 pixels 427 x 640 pixels
Photo center point: 12.5° N, 15.0° W
Country or Geographic Name: | GUINEA-BISSAU |
Features: | ATLANTIC OCEAN, GEBA RIVER, BISSAGOS ISLANDS, TRARZA DESERT, SAHARA DESERT |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 10 (1-10)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 58° |
Sun Azimuth: | 133° |
Camera: | Nikon D5 Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 50mm |
Camera Tilt: | High Oblique |
Format: | 5568E: 5568 x 3712 pixel CMOS sensor, 35.9 x 23.9 mm, total pixels: 21.33 million, Nikon FX format |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3712 pixels | 4124 pixels | No | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 800 pixels | Yes | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 3712 pixels | 5568 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 427 pixels | 640 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) took this oblique photograph that shows most of the West African country of Guinea-Bissau, along with neighboring Guinea (lower right), The Gambia and Senegal (top left), and the southern part of Mauritania.
From ISS altitude, astronauts can see different climate zones in a single view. This scene stretches from the green forest vegetation and wet climates of the Atlantic coast to the almost vegetation-less landscapes of the Sahara Desert. Guinea-Bissau has approximately 60 percent forest cover, in contrast to Mauritania, which has less than 1 percent forest cover.
The image shows several physiographic details of Guinea-Bissau. The islands of the Bijagos Archipelago and estuaries of the coastline stand out. The Bijago Islands provide refuge for sea turtles and certain migratory bird species. The Rio Corubal enters the sea and deposits a muddy load of sediment in the waters near the capital city of Bissau. Haze across the center of the image is smoke from agricultural burning or wildfires.
Languages make a complex mosaic in the region. Colonial-era languages are important, with Portuguese in Guinea-Bissau, French in Guinea and Senegal, and English in The Gambia. According to the Addis Herald, several native African languages are spoken in Guinea-Bissau, with Bijago restricted to the Bijagos Islands. By contrast, the Fulani language and its relatives are spoken from Guinea-Bissau to villages as far east as the Sudan.
