SPACEPHOTOS

Danube River Delta, Romania Spring/Summer 1996 The Danube River (dark meandering line- left middle) makes an abrupt course change near the center of this west-looking, synoptic view. The Danube then heads eastward draining the expansive marshlands of this unique western delta, eventually emptying into the western end of the Black Sea. Three major channels (only the straighter, middle channel is visible in this image) help drain this large wetland. The east-west section of the Danube River (vertical orientation in this image) shown in this scene forms the border between Romania (south of the river) and the southern tips of the Moldova (area north of river near center of image) and the Ukraine (north of the river, lower right quadrant). Even at this scale large, cultivated field patterns are observed throughout the scene. In particular notice the intensively cultivated landscape on the large island created by two branches of the Danube River (left middle). Refer to image T2779, a color infrared image, to be able to effectively interpret the uniform, dark greenish-looking features. With the aid of the color infrared image, it is easier to discriminate land-water boundaries as well as vegetation versus water surfaces. Compare for example the lakes north of the river (Ukraine) with the elevated and forested (deeper reds on the color infrared image) region south of the river (Romania). It is also easier to discriminate vegetated areas in and around the delta versus the open water areas (lagoons, estuaries, lakes) along the coast.