Sunday, April 17, 2011

Satellite Photographs 'Black Hole' on Earth

A Korean satellite has caught an eye-catching view of an Island in Mexico  known for a deep , rocky hole and waters so dark that they earned it the name  Holbox , a name  that means "black hole."

The photo was taken by the Korea Mulit-purpose Satellite 2 , or Kompsat-2 , and shows Holbox  Island and its lagoon at the northeast corner of  Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula .

Holbox Island is a 26-mile-long strip of land separated  from the mainland by the lagoon.

"The freshwater lagoon has a deep rocky hole that surrounds the island , making the water appear black ," officials with the Eurpoan Space Agency , which is a partner in the
Kompast-2 mission , explained  "it is thought that Holbox , which in Mayan translates as 'black hole,' was named after the dark laggon  water."

Holbox Island is situated at an b oceanic meeting points of sorts where the  Atlantic Ocean ,  Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean   converge .The mixing of three waters creates a nutrient rich environmrnt  that supports an abundant  array of marine life , ESA officials said .[The world's biggest Oceans and Seas ] At Caboe Catoche , a cape at the eastern tip of the Island , the mixing of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico creates a veritable Kaleid oscope of watery turquoise and emerald colors .

Because of its hosts of marine life , Holbox Island and its surrounding Waters are protected  as part of the Yum Balam Bisophere Reserve .  The Islands beaches of white coralline  sand serve as a vital home for turtle nests and more than 500 species of birds , while dolphins , manta rays and several shark species swimmoff shore. The region is also home to the worlds largest known gathering of whale sharks , the largest fish on the planet ... for five months of the year , ESA officials said .

The Kompsat-2 satellite has been snapping photos of Earth from orbit since it luanched into space in 2006 . The Satellite was built for the Korea Areospace Rearch Institute to provide uninterrupted Earth  observation coverage following it's prodecessor  , Kompsat-1. 

ESA serves as  a third party  partner in the mission  and uses ground-based infrastructure  to receive , process and distribute the image from Kompsat-2.

1 comment:

Through this ever open gate
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