Crew Earth Observations (CEO) taken during Expedition Six

ISS006-E-43366 (4 April 2003) --- This view featuring Baitoushan Volcano, China and North Korea, was photographed by an Expedition 6 crewmember on the International Space Station (ISS). One of the largest known Holocene eruptions occurred at Baitoushan Volcano (also known as Changbaishan in China and P’aektu-san in Korea) about 1000 A.D., with erupted material deposited as far away as northern Japan – a distance of approximately 1200 kilometers. The eruption also created the 4.5 kilometer diameter, 850 meters deep summit caldera of the volcano that is now filled with the waters of Lake Tianchi (or Sky Lake). This oblique photograph was taken during the winter season, and snow highlights frozen Lake Tianchi along with lava flow lobes along the southern face of the volcano. Baitoushan last erupted in 1702 and is considered a dormant volcano. Gas emissions were reported from the summit and nearby hot springs in 1994, but no evidence of renewed activity of the volcano was observed. The Chinese-Korean border runs directly through the center of the summit caldera, and the mountain is considered sacred by the dominantly Korean population living near the volcano. Lake Tianchi is a popular resort destination, both for its natural beauty and alleged sightings of unidentified creatures living in its depths (similar to legendary Loch Ness Monster in Scotland).