Asuncion, Paraguay

STS072-730-079 (11-20 Jan. 1996) --- Asuncion, capital city of Paraguay, South America (population 1.2 million) appears as de-vegetated countryside, in this 70mm photograph from the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The frame is focused at the downtown area next to the major bend of the Paraguay river. As the intensity of land use declines away from the center, the countryside becomes greener. Large farm plots can be seen at the bottom of the view. Lake Ypacarai (at the bottom) is a resort location surrounded by second homes for Paraguay's more affluent citizens. The top left corner of the photograph is northernmost Argentina, a remote, underdeveloped part of the country. Ships carry Paraguay's small import and export traffic down the Paraguay and Parana Rivers to Buenos Aires, the major port of the region hundreds of miles to the south (left). This may be the best shot of Asuncion so far during the Shuttle Program. The area spans 45 miles across the base of the picture. The river flows south (right to left).