ISS062-E-40353
| NASA Photo ID | ISS062-E-40353 |
| Focal Length | 400mm |
| Date taken | 2020.02.21 |
| Time taken | 11:27:00 GMT |
Photo center point: 42.1° N, 19.4° E
Photo center point by machine learning: 42.13° N, 19.37° E
Country or Geographic Name: | ALBANIA |
Features: | LAKE SKADAR, DINARIC ALPS, MORACA RIVER, DRIN RIVER, KIR RIVER, BOJANA RIVER, ADRIATIC SEA, MONTENEGRO |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 10 (1-10)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 37° |
Sun Azimuth: | 189° |
Camera: | Nikon D5 Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 400mm |
Camera Tilt: | 13 degrees |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | Yes | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 5568 pixels | 3712 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 427 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
Dark and light sediments swirl around in the center of Lake Skadar (also known as Lake Shkodra), the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula. This pattern captured the attention of an astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Lake Skadar is a karst lake that straddles the border of Montenegro and Albania. It is an example of a cryptodepression, where parts of the lakebed extend below sea level. The curved, spine-like ridges running parallel with the southern shore are part of the Dinaric Alps, which are comprised mostly of easily erodible rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and other carbonates.
The swirling plume in the center of the lake is likely the mixing of sediment that has been transported downstream from higher elevations via snow-melt water and other mountain runoff. A major source of this sediment inflow comes from the Moraca River; its wide delta occupies much of the Montenegro shoreline. Smaller river deltas along the northern edges of the lake also contribute sediment. The Drin River and the Bojana River converge just south of the ancient lake-front city of Shkoder, which lies on the small delta of the Kir River. The lake and these rivers all ultimately drain into the Adriatic Sea.
As with many large freshwater lakes near cities, many of the native plants and animals in Lake Skadar became endangered due to human activity. Montenegro has since made the western portion of the lake a national park, and Albania declared its section as a nature reserve. Both efforts were made to protect many species of birds, microorganisms, and aquatic life, including eels, snails, and endemic fish species.
