MSGID: 1:317/3 648b51c4   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   June 15, 2023 - Dasht-e Lut, Iran   
      
      Lut   
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      The arid expanse of southeastern Iran contains a rich variety of   
      spectacular desert landforms, and the Dasht-e Lut (Lut Desert) is one   
      of the most breathtaking. In the Persian language, the word “Lut” is   
      used to describe extremely dry, bare land that is devoid of   
      vegetation—an apt description of this hyper-arid and searingly hot   
      region. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on   
      board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of the rich   
      colors and contours of the Dasht-e Lut on June 14, 2023.   
      
      The formations found in the Dasht-e Lut are so unique that it was   
      inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. One striking feature   
      is a field of yardangs—massive and dramatic folds that stretch across   
      the desert, with ridges and corridors oriented parallel to the dominant   
      prevailing winds. These sit in the western side of Dasht-e Lut and have   
      been essentially “sand blasted” into existence from sand-filled,   
      relentless winds whip across the desert every year between June and   
      October.   
      
      In the east, the Dasht-e Lut is filled with a huge sand sea (erg),   
      which appears in this image as a tan area filled with long rippling   
      lines. These actively moving dunes, which are slowly blown by the wind,   
      can reach heights of 475 meters (1,558 feet). Not only are these among   
      the largest dunes in the world, but they also take a variety of forms:   
      linear, compound crescentic, star, and funnel shaped. Where a few   
      plants survive in the slightly moist edges of the dune field, the sand   
      piles into nebkhas, which are basically hummock-like dunes that form   
      around vegetation.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Terra   
      Date Acquired: 6/14/2023   
      Resolutions:  1km (92.8 KB),  500m (249.8 KB),  250m (522.3   
      KB)   
      Bands Used: 1,4,3   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-06-15   
       
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