STS065-094-043 Adonara, Flores, Lomblem Islands, Indonesia July 1994
Numerous volcanic peaks can be seen in this spectacular southwest-looking view of the Indonesian Islands of Flores, Adonara, Solor, and Lomblem. Extending from near the upper right to near the center of the image is the eastern half of Flores Island. Over 233 miles (375 km) long, Flores has many landscapes, including lush paddy fields, arid plains, rugged hills, and dense jungles. The coastline has few inlets and there are no large rivers on the island. There are however, numerous volcanoes, fourteen of which are active. Flores Island is considered to be one of the most geological unstable places on earth. Copra, rice, maize, and coffee are grown on the fertile volcanic soils and cattle are also raised. The small, elongated island east (left) of Flores is Solor Island. This small mountainous island, with at least 5 volcanoes, is 25 miles (40 km) long and 4 miles (6 km) wide. Raising copra and fishing are the main industries of the island. The larger island to the east (left) of Flores is Adonara Island with its major active volcano, Ile Boleng. The volcano is visible just to the left of a line of clouds on the southeastern part of Adonara. Adonara covers an area of 224 sq. miles (580 sq. km) and is 23 miles (37 km) long and 11 miles (18 km) wide. At the bottem left of the image, the western third of the irregular shaped and volcanic island of Lomblem is discernible.
STS065-096-007 Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A. July 1994
The influence of the northeast trade winds on the island of Oahu is apparent by the formation of clouds on the windward slopes of the Koolau Range in northeastern Oahu and by a highly reflective island wake (created by the current flow of water around the island) off the southwest coast of the island. A broad, cultivated, northwest-southeast-aligned valley connects the Koolau Range with the higher paralleling Waianae Range along the southwestern side of Oahu. Kaala Mountain [4046 feet (1233 meters)] in the Waianae Range is the highest elevation on Oahu. Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Honolulu International Airport, and Diamond Head Crater are discernible along the southern coast of the island.
STS065-096-009 Molokai, Hawaii, U.S.A. July 1994
The higher elevations along the northeastern third of Molokai, some at 4970 feet (1515 meters), have a dramatic impact on the amount of precipitation that falls from one island to another and on different parts of the same island. The rain shadow effect—drier conditions in the west (signified by lighter colors)—is the result of the northeast trade winds hitting the higher elevations in the east and dropping most of the moisture along the northeastern end of the island (darker colors indicate vegetation). The remote peninsula that juts northward in the middle of the north coast is the site of Kalaupapa National Historical Park. A leper colony was established in 1866 on this remote peninsula. A well-established coral reef system is visible along the south and southeastern shorelines of Molokai, south of which lies Lanai.
STS065-096-010 Lanai, Hawaii, U.S.A. July 1994
Lanai, located west of Maui and south of Molokai, is separated by the Auau and Kalohi Channels, respectively. Volcanic in origin, Lanai’s highest elevation [4714 feet (1437 meters)] is near the north-central part of the island. Island wakes trail to the southwest of Lanai and on the leeward side of Maui. Scientists are interested in mapping the turbulent areas on the leeward side of the islands to help document processes by which energy is transported downstream from these and other islands. The extensive use of Lanai for the development of the pineapple industry during the mid-1900s has recently been replaced by resort development.
STS065-096-011 Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A. July 1994
Apparent in this low-oblique photograph of Maui are several features—a large buildup of probable rain clouds over the northeast slope of Puukukui Volcano, which makes up the small west-northwest peninsula of the island; the disturbed water pattern on the southwest side of the peninsula created by velocity variations of near-surface air movement, producing an island wake; and multicolored, intensively cultivated field patterns in the intermontane valley. Visible are Red Hill and Haleakala Crater near the top of the photograph and the eastern ends of Kahoolawe (right side) and Lanai (lower right edge).