Richat Structure

Akpatok Island

map of Akpatok IslandAkpatok Island lies in Ungava Bay in northern Quebec, Canada. Accessible only by air, Akpatok Island rises out of the water as sheer cliffs that soar 500 to 800 feet (150 to 243 m) above the sea surface. The island is an important sanctuary for cliff-nesting seabirds. Numerous ice floes around the island attract walrus and whales, making Akpatok a traditional hunting ground for native Inuit people.

Akpatok Island. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.6 miles (2.5 km)], January 22, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (1)

Aleutian Clouds

map of Aleutian CloudsThese cloud formations were seen over the western Aleutian Islands. Their color variations are probably due to differences in temperature and in the size of water droplets that make up the clouds.

Aleutian Clouds. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.3 miles (3.7 km)], June 16, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (2)

Araca River

map of Araca RiverBrazil's Araca River is a tributary of the Negro River, which feeds into the Amazon.

Araca River. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.9 miles (3.0 km)], March 15, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (3)

Atlas Mountains

map of Atlas MountainsThese are the Anti-Atlas Mountains, part of the Atlas Mountain range in southern Morocco in North Africa. The region contains some of the world's largest and most diverse mineral resources, most of which are still untouched.

Atlas Mountains. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 3.7 miles (6.0 km)], June 22, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (4)

Guinea-Bissau

map of Guinea-BissauShown is Guinea-Bissau, a small country in West Africa. Complex patterns can be seen in the shallow waters along its coastline, where silt carried by the Geba and other rivers washes out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Guinea-Bissau. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 3.0 miles (4.9 km)], December 1, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (5)

Bolivian Deforestation

map of Bolivian DeforestationOnce a vast carpet of healthy vegetation and virgin forest, the Amazon rain forest is changing rapidly. This image of Bolivia shows dramatic deforestation in the Amazon Basin. Loggers have cut long paths into the forest, while ranchers have cleared large blocks for their herds. Fanning out from these clear-cut areas are settlements built in radial arrangements of fields and farms. Healthy vegetation appears red in this image.

Bolivian Deforestation. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.1 miles (3.4 km)], August 1, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (6)

Parana River Delta

map of Parana River DeltaThe Parana River delta is a huge forested marshland about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The area is a very popular tour destination. Guided boat tours can be taken into this vast labyrinth of marsh and trees. The Parana River delta is one of the world's greatest bird-watching destinations. This image highlights the striking contrast between dense forest and wetland marshes, and the deep blue ribbon of the Parana River.

Parana River Delta. Kodak R3 facsimile map, 1" = 1.4 miles (2.25 km)], May 26, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (7)

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Chilean Volcanoes

map of Chilean VolcanoesOn the border between Chile and the Catamarca province of Argentina lies a vast field of currently dormant volcanoes. Over time, these volcanoes have laid down a crust of magma roughly 2 miles (3.5 km) thick. It is tinged with a patina of various colors that can indicate both the age and mineral content of the original lava flows.

Chilean Volcanoes. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 3.0 miles (4.9 km)], May 15, 1999. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (8)

Coahuila, Mexico

map of Coahuila, MexicoThis desolate landscape is part of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, on the border between the Coahuila and Nuevo Leon provinces of Mexico.

Coahuila, Mexico. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.5 miles (2.4 km)], November 28, 1999. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (9)

Dasht-e Kevir

map of Dasht-e KevirThe Dasht-e Kevir, or Great Salt Desert, is the largest desert in Iran. It is a primarily uninhabited wasteland, composed of mud and salt marshes covered with crusts of salt that protect the meager moisture from completely evaporating.

Dasht-e Kevir. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.3 miles (3.6 km)], October 24, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (10)

Demini River

map of Demini RiverA marsh-like area borders the Demini River in northwestern Brazil. The Demini eventually joins the Amazon River.

Demini River. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.4 miles (2.2 km)], March 15, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (11)

"Dragon Lake"

map of 'Dragon Lake'Nicknamed “Dragon Lake,” this body of water is formed by the Bratskove Reservoir, built along the Angara River in southern Siberia, near the city of Bratsk. This image was taken in winter, when the lake is frozen.

"Dragon Lake." Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 3.4 miles (5.5 km)], December 19, 1999. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (12)

Florida Everglades

map of Florida EvergladesSpanning the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula and most of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. It contains both temperate and tropical plant communities, including sawgrass prairie, mangrove and cypress swamps, pinelands, and hardwood hammocks, as well as marine and estuarine environments. The park is known for its rich bird life, particularly large wading birds, such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron, and a variety of egrets. It is also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side.

Florida Everglades. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1"= 3.7 miles (6.0 km)], February 5, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (13)

Ganges River Delta

map of Ganges River DeltaThe Ganges River forms an extensive delta where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. The delta is largely covered with a swamp forest known as the Sunderbans, which is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Ganges River Delta. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 4.3 miles (6.9 km)], February 28, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (14)

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Garden City, Kansas

map of Garden City, KansasCenter pivot irrigation systems created these circular patterns in crop land near Garden City, Kansas. The red circles indicate irrigated crops of healthy vegetation. The light-colored circles represent harvested crops.

Garden City, Kansas. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.2 miles (3.5 km)], September 25, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (15)

Ghadamis River

map of Ghadamis RiverThis scar on an arid landscape is the dry riverbed of the Ghadamis River in the Tinrhert Hamada Mountains near Ghadamis, Libya.

Ghadamis River. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.6 miles (2.6 km)], November 6, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (16)

Greenland Coast

map of Greenland CoastAlong Greenland's western coast, a small field of glaciers surrounds Baffin Bay.

Greenland Coast. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 0.8 miles (1.3 km)], September 3, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (17)

Great Sandy Scars

map of Great Sandy ScarsIn a small corner of the vast Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia, large sand dunes—the only sand in this desert of scrub and rock—appear as lines stretching from left to right. The light-colored fan shapes are scars from wildfires.

Great Sandy Scars. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.6 miles (2.5 km)], August 22, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (18)

West Fjords

map of West FjordsThe West Fjords are a series of peninsulas in northwestern Iceland. They represent less than one-eighth the country's land area, but their jagged perimeter accounts for more than half of Iceland's total coastline.

West Fjords. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.7 miles (2.8 km)], June 6, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (19)

Iraqi Emplacement

map of Iraqi EmplacementIn an area north of the city of Al-Basrah, Iraq, which borders Iran, a former wetland has been drained and walled off. Now littered with minefields and gun emplacements, it is a staging area for military exercises.

Iraqi Emplacement. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.4 miles (2.2 km)], January 24, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (20)

Karman Vortices

map of Karman VorticesEach of these swirling clouds is a result of a meteorological phenomenon known as a Karman vortex. These vortices appeared over Alexander Selkirk Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. Rising precipitously from the surrounding waters, the island's highest point is nearly a mile (1.6 km) above sea level. As wind-driven clouds encounter this obstacle, they flow around it to form these large, spinning eddies.

Karman Vortices. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 4.3 miles (6.9 km)], September 15, 1999. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (21)

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Kilimanjaro

map of KilimanjaroPortions of Kenya and Tanzania, in East Africa, can be seen in this image. The peak of Kilimanjaro is on the right; the mountain is flanked by the plains of Amboseli National Park to the north and the rugged Arusha National Park to the south and west.

Kilimanjaro. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 4.7 miles (7.6 km)], February 21, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (22)

Konari, Iran

map of Konari, IranThe Mand River and the small town of Konari nestle in the Zagros Mountains in western Iran.

Konari, Iran. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.9 miles (3.1 km)], February 2, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (23)

Lake Carnegie

map of Lake CarnegieEphemeral Lake Carnegie, in Western Australia, fills with water only during periods of significant rainfall. In dry years, it is reduced to a muddy marsh.

Lake Carnegie. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.0 miles (3.2 km)], May 19, 1999. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (24)

Icefall, Lambert Glacier, Antarctica

map of Icefall, Lambert Glacier, AntarcticaThe Lambert Glacier in Antarctica, is the world's largest glacier. The focal point of this image is an icefall that feeds into the Lambert glacier from the vast ice sheet covering the polar plateau. Ice flows like water, albeit much more slowly. Cracks can be seen in this icefall as it bends and twists on its slow-motion descent 1,300 feet (400 meters) to the glacier below.

Icefall, Lambert Glacier, Antarctica. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.6 miles (2.5 km)], December 2, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (25)

Lena Delta

map of Lena DeltaThe Lena River, some 2,800 miles (4,500 km) long, is one of the largest rivers in the world. The Lena Delta Reserve is the most extensive protected wilderness area in Russia. It is an important refuge and breeding ground for many species of Siberian wildlife.

Lena Delta. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 4.8 miles (7.7 km)], July 27, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (26)

MacDonnell Ranges

map of MacDonnell RangesThe MacDonnell Ranges are a band of mountains spanning Australia's arid interior. Only a portion of the Ranges can be seen in this image.

MacDonnell Ranges. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.8 miles (2.8 km)], August 1, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (27)

Malaspina Glacier

map of Malaspina GlacierThe tongue of the Malaspina Glacier, the largest glacier in Alaska, fills most of this image. The Malaspina lies west of Yakutat Bay and covers 1,500 sq mi (3,880 sq km).

Malaspina Glacier. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.4 miles (2.3 km)], August 31, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (28)

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Mayn River

map of Mayn RiverThe Mayn River, seen here with what is thought to be a portion of the Anadyr River, flows through the far northeastern corner of Siberia.

Mayn River. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.4 miles (2.2 km)], October 25, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (29)

Namaqualand

map of NamaqualandNamaqualand in South Africa is known as the “Gem of the Northern Cape.” Portions of this area were turned into a national park in 1999, to preserve the abundant wildlife and brilliant wildflowers native to the area.

Namaqualand. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.9 miles (3.1 km)], August 23, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (30)

Namib Desert

map of Namib DesertNamib-Naukluft National Park is an ecological preserve in Namibia's vast Namib Desert. Coastal winds create the tallest sand dunes in the world here, with some dunes reaching 980 feet (300 meters) in height.

Namib Desert. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.8 miles (2.9 km)], August 12, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (31)

Edrengiyn Nuruu

map of Edrengiyn NuruuThe Edrengiyn Nuruu forms a transition zone between the Mongolian steppes to the north and the arid deserts of northern China to the south.

Edrengiyn Nuruu. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 4.5 miles (7.3 km)], August 13, 1999. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (32)

Sulaiman Mountains

map of Sulaiman MountainsThe Sulaiman Mountains are a major geological feature of Pakistan and one of the bordering ranges of the Indian subcontinent.

Sulaiman Mountains. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.8 miles (4.5 km)], April 28, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (33)

Richat Structure

map of Richat StructureThe so-called Richat Structure is a geological formation in the Maur Adrar Desert in the African country of Mauritania. Although it resembles an impact crater, the Richat Structure formed when a volcanic dome hardened and gradually eroded, exposing the onion-like layers of rock.

Richat Structure. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.7 miles (2.8 km)], January 11, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (34)

Terkezi Oasis

map of Terkezi OasisA series of rocky outcroppings are a prominent feature of this Sahara Desert landscape near the Terkezi Oasis in the country of Chad.

Terkezi Oasis. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.6 miles (2.5 km)], October 22, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (35)

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“The Optimist”

map of "The Optimist"On the edge of the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, sand dunes are encroaching onto once-fertile lands in the north. Healthy vegetation appears red in this image; in the center, notice the lone red dot. It is the result of a center-pivot irrigation system, evidence that at least one optimistic farmer continues to work the fields despite the approaching sand.

The Optimist.” Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.4 miles (2.2 km)], August 14, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (36)

Volga River Delta

map of Volga River DeltaWhere the Volga River flows into the Caspian Sea, it creates an extensive delta. The Volga Delta is comprised of more than 500 channels and sustains the most productive fishing grounds in Eurasia.

Volga River Delta. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.8 miles (4.5 km)], August 29, 1999. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (37)

Great Sandy Desert

map of Great Sandy DesertThe western region of Australia’s Great Sandy Desert is in an area almost devoid of sand but characterized by complex geology.

Great Sandy Desert. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.8 miles (4.5 km)], February 24, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (38)

Whirlpool in the Air

map of Whirlpool in the AirThis image shows a spinning formation of ice, clouds, and low-lying fog off the eastern coast of Greenland.

Whirlpool in the Air. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.7 miles (2.8 km)], May 14, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (39)

Yellowknife Wetlands

map of Yellowknife WetlandsExtensive wetlands lie near the town of Yellowknife, near the Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The shallow lakes seen in this image have formed in grooves in the landscape that were carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age.

Yellowknife Wetlands. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 2.8 miles (4.5 km)], July 3, 2001. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (40)

Karman Vortices near Broutona

map of Karman Vortices near BroutonaThese Karman vortices formed over the islands of Broutona, Chirpoy, and Brat Chirpoyev (“Chirpoy's Brother”), all part of the Kuril Island chain found between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan.

Karman Vortices near Broutona. Kodak R3 facsimile map, [1" = 1.6 miles (2.5 km)], June 5, 2000. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress (41)

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