Earth observations during STS-95

STS089-703-056 (22-31 Jan. 1998) --- This oblique picture of Argentina and other parts of South America was photographed with a 70mm handheld camera from the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Endeavour. Looking westward across the continent, north is toward the upper right corner and the Atlantic Ocean is in the foreground. Rio de la Plata in the center (the confluence of Rio Uruguay and Rio Parana) shows a sediment plume generated by drainage of El Niño rains upslope in the Andean foothills. The sediment plume is possibly more extensive than usual and extends down the coast and out of the bay to the left (south). The city of Buenos Aires, Argentina (population 13 million) is at upper left, and at right center is the city of Montevideo, Uruguay (population 1.2 million). Photo credit: NASA