This image shows fires and smoke plumes near the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon. Fire locations are superimposed in red on the true-color image, taken on May 2, 2001. Virgin forest is dark green, while land cleared for agriculture is lighter green or brown. Fire is the principle method used to clear new land. Although peak burning season is July through September, there are already 20 or more fires that can be seen burning in this image. The deforestation of the Amazon River Basin is one of the world's best-known environmental problems.