May 23, 2021 - Tassilli n'Ajjer, Algeria

    Follow @NASA_MODIS

   Algeria, Tassili N
    Tweet
    Share

   Rich tans, oranges, yellows, and browns wash Algeria’s portion of the
   Sahara Desert, especially where the brightly-colored Tifernine Dunes
   meet the rugged Tassili n’Ajjer—a dark sandstone plateau that curves
   around the edge of the dunes. The rocky plateau stands a few hundred
   feet above the surrounding sand seas.

   Rich in geologic and human history, Tassili n’Ajjer is a United Nations
   Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
   Heritage Site. The geology of Tassili n’Ajjer is complex, with the
   plateau composed of sandstone around a mass of granite dating from the
   Precambrian. Tassili n’Ajjer translates to “plateau of chasms,” a name
   that describes the deep fissures and canyons long ago cut into the rock
   by flowing water. The dune field below took shape after an ancient lake
   dried up. More than 15,000 prehistoric etchings and illustrations have
   been discovered on the cave walls in these rugged rocks, documenting
   human presence as far back as 6000 BCE.

   On May 20, 2021, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
   (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a stunning true-color
   image of the rich colors of Tassili n’Ajjer rising from the dune fields
   in Algeria. A few puffy clouds sit over the high plateau, casting
   shadows on the sandstone.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Terra
   Date Acquired: 5/20/2021
   Resolutions:  1km (143.1 KB),  500m (365.9 KB),  250m (843.6
   KB)
   Bands Used: 1,4,3
   Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2021-05-23
 
