In one frame International Space Station astronauts were able to capture
the evolution of fringing reefs to atolls. As with the Hawaiian
Islands, these volcanic hot spot islands become progressively older to
the northwest. As these islands move away from their magma sources they
erode and subside. The two large islands, Raiatea and Tahaa, share a
single fringing reef. The next island to the northwest, Bora-Bora,
consists of a highly eroded volcanic remnant with fringing reef. The
last island, Tupai, signifies the destiny of these islands; the fringing
reef has become an atoll with the central island below sea level.
Astronaut Photograph ISS6-E-22132
was taken with a 760 digital camera and is provided by the Earth
Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory at Johnson Space Center.
Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA-JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth.