Rio De La Colonia, Chile

The remote headwaters of the Rio de la Colonia are located on the eastern flank of the Cerro Pared Norte, a high, coastal range of the Andes in southern Chile. This is a but a portion of a larger glaciated region of the Chilean coast located at only 47 degrees South. The river actually begins its flow just off the top of this scene at the foot of the two large, converging, valley glaciers near the center. Some of the numerous lake visible are tinted by the fine glacial sediments suspended in their waters. Note the shards of ice that have calved from the glaciers into the lakes on the left. Also note the shadows of the crest of the over 14,000-foot mountains (lower center).

Photo and caption thanks to:
Earth Sciences and Image Analysis, NASA-Johnson Space Center. 29 Aug. 2002. "Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Photographic Highlights - ISS001." http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/debrief/ISS001/topFiles/ISS001-E-5107.htm.

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