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(Image credit: NASA/ISS program)
FAST FACTS
Where is it? Chiltepe Peninsula, Lake Managua, Nicaragua [12.236943676, -86.34017745]
What’s in the picture? 2 volcanic lakes that appear like a set of eyes looking upward
Who took the picture? An unnamed astronaut on board the International Space Station
When was it taken? Jan. 21, 2014
This interesting astronaut picture reveals 2 volcanic lakes appearing to peer into area from a skull-like peninsula in Nicaragua, like a set of heterochromatic googly eyes. This uncommon scene, which is affected by a subtle visual fallacy, is totally indistinguishable from ground level.
If these lakes are thought about eyes, then their head is the Chiltepe Peninsula, a rounded landmass that extends into the waters of Lake Managua. Understood in your area as Lago Xolotlán, it covers a location of around 400 square miles (1,040 square kilometers) in the heart of the Central American country.
The peninsula, situated around 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the capital city of Managua, was formed by a series of pyroclastic guard eruptions. Throughout these blasts, primarily low-density products, such as pumice, are strongly ejected from below the surface area, according to NASA’s Earth ObservatoryThese significant eruptions ended around 17,000 years back. More current volcanic activity has actually taken place there within the previous 2,000 years.The smaller sized lake (left wing), which is around 1.1 miles (1.7 km) broad, lies within the Apoyeque caldera. The bigger lake (on the right), called Laguna Xiloa, is around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) throughout at its largest point. It was formed by an explosive outburst that took place when lava from listed below Apoyeque communicated with immersed groundwater.
When seen from area, the lakes appear side by side. The surface area of the Apoyeque lake sits at an elevation of around 1,300 feet (400 m), while Laguna Xiloa is close to sea level– suggesting you would not be able to see both unless you stood on the crater rim of Apoyeque.
Related: See all the very best pictures of Earth from area
From the shoes of Lake Managua, the Chiltepe Peninsula looks much
various than it does from area.
(Image credit: Getty Images)The 2 lakes are a little various colors: Laguna Xiloa is a deep blue, while Apoyeque is greenish. If these bodies of water were truly eyes, then they would be an unusual example of heterochromia– an uncommon condition in which an individual’s eyes are various colors.
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In the beginning glimpse, the 2 lakes have a relatively comparable shapes and size. Apoyeque’s lake is smaller sized and more rounded than Laguna Xiloa. The factor for this subtle impression is that the rim of Apoyeque’s crater is far more carefully lined up to the summary of Laguna Xiloa, making them appear more comparable in the beginning look.
Explosive possibleBoth Apoyeque and Laguna Xiloa are technically active volcanoes, however they have actually not appeared for centuries and are not likely to do so anytime quickly, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Worldwide Volcanism ProgramLaguna Xiloa last appeared roughly 6,000 years back, whereas Apoyeque has actually had 4 significant eruptions ever since. The most current and dynamite of these is approximated to have actually happened in around 50 B.C. and shaped the shape of the crater that now holds its lake.
In 2012, a swarm of small earthquakes was activated by the motion of lava underneath Apoyeque, according to the Earth Observatory. This was not an indication of an impending eruption.
If the bigger volcano were to blow its top, it might affect a few of the homeowners of Managua, along with substantially threaten the citizens of Bosques de Xiloa, a village on the coasts of Laguna Xiloa (noticeable in the satellite image).
Harry is a U.K.-based senior personnel author at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to end up being a reporter. He covers a wide variety of subjects consisting of area expedition, planetary science, area weather condition, environment modification, animal habits and paleontology. His current deal with the solar optimum won “best space submission” at the 2024 Aerospace Media Awards and was shortlisted in the “top scoop” classification at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence in 2023. He likewise composes Live Science’s weekly Earth from area series.
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