The Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories, Canada, with its
headstreams the Peace and Finley, is the longest river in North America at
4241 km, and drains an area of 1,805,000 square km. The large marshy delta
provides habitat for migrating Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, Brant, and other
waterfowl. The estuary is a calving area for Beluga whales. The Mackenzie
(previously the Disappointment River) was named after Alexander Mackenzie
who travelled the river while trying to reach the Pacific in 1789.
The image was acquired on August 4, 2005, covers an area of 55.8 x 55.8
km, and is located at 68.6 degrees north latitude, 134.7 degrees west
longitude.
The U.S. science team is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, Calif. The Terra mission is part of NASA's Science Mission
Directorate.
