The unusual pattern of numerous parallel lines and sweeping curves scene in the deserts of central Iran from the International Space Station February 14, 2014 near Kavir, Iran. The lack of soil and vegetation allows the geological structure of the rocks to appear quite clearly. According to geologists, the patterns result from the gentle folding of numerous, thin, light and dark layers of rock. Later erosion by wind and water cut a flat surface across the folds, not only exposing hundreds of layers but also showing the shapes of the folds.
The unusual pattern of numerous parallel lines and sweeping curves scene in the deserts of central Iran from the International Space Station February 14, 2014 near Kavir, Iran. The lack of soil and vegetation allows the geological structure of the rocks to appear quite clearly. According to geologists, the patterns result from the gentle folding of numerous, thin, light and dark layers of rock. Later erosion by wind and water cut a flat surface across the folds, not only exposing hundreds of layers but also showing the shapes of the folds. The dark water of a lake occupies a depression in a more easily eroded, S-shaped layer of rock. The irregular light-toned patch just left of the lake is a sand sheet thin enough to allow the underlying rock layers to be detected. A small river snakes across the bottom of the image.
Size: 5150px × 3427px
Location: Earth Orbit
Photo credit: © NASA Photo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: deserts, geology, horizontal, iran, iranian, iss, kavir, landscape, nasa, patterns, satellite, swirls, view
