Commander Islands, Bering Sea  05/03/05

MODIS true color image (bands 1, 4, 3) of the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea, 3 May 2005.

Corresponding MOD10_L2 snow map.

The Commander Islands, in Russian "Komandorskiye Ostrova," float east of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Bering Sea. This true-color Terra MODIS image from May 3, 2005, shows the tiny islands covered in bright white snow against the deep black open water. The islands - Bering island in the west and Mednyi Island in the east - support a small population of Russians and Aleuts that supports itself on fishing and hunting whales. Bering Island lies on the International Timeline, and both tend to be foggy and experience earthquakes.

Text and image courtesy of NASA's MODIS Land Rapid Response Team.