The Amazon Delta

The Landsat image above shows a satellite view of the Amazon River delta in the Brazilian states of Para and Maranhao in 1991. The city of Belem is ~150 km to the west. Red areas show tropical forest. Deforested areas are clearly visible as lighter colored dendritic patterns radiating outward from access roads. Rice, cotton and coffee are grown in this area. The light blue areas at the top of the image show turbid river outflow carrying suspended sediment into the Atlantic Ocean.

For more information see: Landsat Pathfinder Program