Seen from the sky, it forms a black scar in the desert. A very long ground mark that required no less than four shots to cover its full range. This is the work done by an unknown astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS). The latter photographed Carrizozo Malpaís, a large basaltic lava flow located in New Mexico, in the southwestern United States, according to a NASA press release published on September 26.
The various shots, taken on June 30, 2022, cover an area of about 33,700 hectares and a length of 75 kilometers. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this lava flow is the result of an eruption in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert that occurred about 5,000 years ago and will continue for 20 to 30 years. During this period, magma slowly flowed from the shield volcano [volcan qui se caractérise par des coulées de lave fluide]currently inactive. “The lava flow is one of the longest to form on Earth in the last 10,000 years.”reveals the USGS.
Highly detailed aerial imagery
According to Live Science, most of the lava came from the volcanic cone, a 27-meter-high mass of ash and scoria that locals call Little Black Peak. It is one of the highest points on a shield volcano, NASA concludes. The lightest areas in the images correspond to cracks and collapses caused by lava formation during aging.
For a long time, the famous Carrizozo Malpaís could not be painted in detail. The latest images released by NASA are the most detailed aerial images of the lava flow ever taken. Contrary to what its dark color might suggest, the latter did not prevent life from appearing. A number of plant species characteristic of desert environments have grown, such as prickly pear or juniper.
People also left their mark. The road divides the area north of the lava flow. There is also a railway line nearby. So many traces that show the importance of Carrizozo Malpaís in the surrounding landscape.
Source: Le Figaro
