Click on image for larger annotated version

This is an image of the Rio Gurupi in the Brazilian state of Maranhao and its delta. It is the only open sea delta in the Americas and has more than 70 islands of various sizes. These islands are covered with mangrove forests, dunes, waterways, fresh water lagoons and natural beaches. This area is part of the Gurupi Biological Reserve, a Brazilian National Biological Reservation. The Gurupi River Delta region houses hundreds of bird and fish species. In this image the Gurupi River is releasing a great deal of sediment into the Atlantic Ocean. This excess of sediments could be caused by deforestation upstream, exchanging forested land for agricultural use, or possibly from gold mining in the Gurupi region.

This image was taken from the Space Shuttle on September 04, 1997. Image, geographic, and position and camera information can be viewed on the ISS EarthKAM meta data page.

Photojournal note:
EarthKAM was formerly known as KidSat. To see images of KidSat, see http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/KidSat .