Karman Vortices near Broutona

These swirling clouds are caused by a weather condition known as a Karman vortex. These Karman vortices formed over islands of the Kuril Island chain found between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan. As wind-driven clouds run into islands that stand high above sea level, they flow around it to form these large, spinning eddies.

This image was taken on 6/5/2000.

Dasht-e Kevir, Iran

The Dasht-e Kevir, or valley of desert, is the largest desert in Iran. It is a mostly a wasteland where no one lives. It is made up of mud and salt marshes covered with crusts of salt that protect what little water there is from completely drying up.<

This image was taken on 10/24/2000.

Lena Delta, Russia

The Lena River, about 4,400 kilometers (2,800 miles) 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 grounds for many species of Siberian wildlife. In this image, water is dark blue, and wetland vegetation is shades of green and pink.

This image was taken on 7/27/2000.