Vivid colors and bizarre shapes come together in an image that could be an imaginative illustration for a fantasy story. This labyrinth of exotic features is present along the edge of Russia’s Chaunskaya Bay (the blue half circle at the bottom) in northeastern Siberia. Two major rivers, the Chaun and Palyavaam, flow into the bay, which in turn opens into the Arctic Ocean. Ribbon lakes and bogs are present throughout the area, created by depressions left by receding glaciers.

Image taken June 15, 2005, by Landsat 5.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/USGS EROS Data Center

Download High Resolution JPEG (4800×4800 pixels; 17.6 MB)

Download the corresponding KML file for use in Google Earth