Earth from House: The Mekong Delta

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captured a uncommon, virtually cloud-free picture over the Mekong Delta and the town of Can Tho in southwest Vietnam.

Zoom in to discover this picture at its full 10 m decision or click on on the circles to study extra. 

The Mekong Delta is an unlimited flood plain fashioned by the longest river in southeast Asia, the Mekong, which might be seen within the high proper nook of the picture. Its exceptionally fertile soil has established the world as one of many world’s richest agricultural areas.

The intensive patchwork of rice paddy fields might be seen throughout the picture, intersected by an intricate net of irrigation and drainage canals. Vietnam is likely one of the world’s high rice producers and this area is commonly labelled Vietnam’s ‘rice bowl’.

Completely different colors within the fields might signify both completely different levels in plant progress or completely different agriculture strategies getting used for the crops. The assorted colors is also the results of a standard agricultural follow within the space: post-harvest, many fields are burned to clear and put together for the following planting cycle. Not too long ago burned fields seem black, whereas these the place a while has handed since burning seem in shades of brown. Notably, wisps of smoke might be noticed, notably within the left of the picture, over some plots that had been being burned on the time the picture was captured. 

There are only a few roads on this space – the community of canals and waterways are used to move individuals and merchandise. All villages and cities within the space are subsequently constructed alongside waterways.

The massive river within the picture, south of the Mekong, is the Hau River, a significant department of the decrease Mekong River. On its left financial institution lies Can Tho, the biggest metropolis of the delta area and visual as a big gray space.

A big inland port, Can Tho is famend for floating markets and for picturesque rural canals. Zooming in northwest of the town reveals the clear define of the Can Tho Worldwide Airport.