The Southeastern United States is on display in This true-color image that was captured on October 26, 2001. Autumn colors can be seen stretching along the Appalachian Mountains, starting at the image's center and heading to the northeast. Also visible is the Mississippi River beginning in the upper-left hand corner of the image and flowing south, eventually discharging into the Gulf of Mexico in a fury of sediment and phytoplankton. Also visible in Virginia, the upper-right corner, are 2 probable forest fires. The satellite has thermal detectors uniquely designed to detect fires as hot as 500K without saturating, and it is being used by land managers in the U.S. to monitor and manage wildfires.