SL3-34-056

SL3-34-056 (July-September 1973) --- A near vertical view of an 8,000 square-mile area of the Grand Erg Oriental in east central Algeria as photographed from Earth orbit by one of the six lenses of the Itek-furnished S190-A Multispectral Photographic Facility Experiment in the Multiple Docking Adapter of the Skylab space station. The Grand Erg contains vast areas of sand dunes and sand plains. This photograph illustrates the variety of surface features that are characteristic of the Sahara Desert. The dark areas are relatively sand free, and may contain rock outcrops along which travel is considerably easier. Sand dunes are abundant in this picture, and their size, shape, location and pattern are due to the underlying topography and direction of the prevailing winds. Scientists interested in study of dune fields will be able to use this photograph for detailed analysis of the dune features, especially their characteristics adjacent to the sand-free areas. Federal agencies participating with NASA on the EREP project are the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers. All EREP photography is available to the public through the Department of Interior?s Earth Resources Observations Systems Data Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57198. Photo credit: NASA