This photo, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, captures the lush, dynamic landscape of southeastern Venezuela. Auyán-tepuí, also known as Auyán Massif, towers thousands of feet above the surrounding area, casting shadows on its northern and western edges. The Caroni and Garao rivers flow west of the massif, converging near Canaima and eventually joining the Orinoco River.
Located within Guyana Highlands, the table-top mountains—called depuis—are steep vertical cliffs rising to 3,000 meters (10,000 ft). Auyán-tepuí, the great tepuis, reaches a height of almost 1,524 meters (5,000 feet).
Because of their altitude, the summit zones of the Debuis have a cooler climate. They are unique ecological islands that contain species of flora and fauna found only on the flat top of the range. The Debuis contains some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, estimated to be over 1.7 billion years old. The Himalayas And Appalachian The mountains joined.
The small town of Canaima appears as a small, light-colored patch in the upper left of the image. Tourists who come to Debuis pass through this town to the remote area. East of the Caroni River, Canaima National Park Protects waterfalls, rivers, rainforests and wildlife such as giant otters, jaguars and exotic birds. Along the Carrao River, waterfalls such as Salto El Chapo can be found near Canaima. Part A UNESCO World Heritage SiteIt is known for its geological history, significant number of endemic species, biodiversity and natural beauty.
Astronaut photo ISS070-E-53609 Purchased on January 4, 2024 with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a 240mm focal length. It is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observation Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The picture was taken by a member Expedition 70 crew. The image was cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts were removed. The International Space Station Project in part supports the laboratory ISS National Laboratory Helping astronauts take pictures of Earth would be of great value to scientists and the public, and to make those pictures freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and astronauts can be viewed at NASA/JSC Gateway to Earth Astronaut Photography. Sarah Schmidt, JETS II Contract Title at Geo Control Systems, NASA-JSC.