SPACEPHOTOS

Two different landscapes are identifiable in this color infrared photograph of southwest Louisiana—the narrow band of coastal wetlands known as the Chenier Plain and the slightly more elevated, undulating, drier Prairie Complex. The coastal wetlands appear as a complicated pattern of reds (vegetation) with three large lakes (Calcasieu, Grand, and White from west to east) and different shades of blue (water surfaces) that follow the marshy coastline. Even in the wetland environment some elevated sand ridges contain stands of live oak trees. North of the Chenier Plain, the terrain changes to the drier Prairie Complex. Appearing as a large, dark, tentacle-shaped feature (center of photograph) are the forested tributaries of Bayou Nezpique, which eventually empties into the northwest corner of Grand Lake. Barely discernible is Interstate Highway 10 between Lake Charles (bottom left) and Lafayette (upper center). A few wispy smoke plumes appear near the left edge of the photograph.