Earth observations from STS-62 flight

STS062-85-031 (4-18 March 1994) --- The shallow platforms (bright blue) and deep channels (dark blue) of the Bahamas provide a striking visual from space. On a finer scale, delicate patterns are created by the islands, sandbars and tidal channels. This view features a portion of the Tongue of the Ocean, one of the large deep water sounds in the western Bahamas. On the platform along the edge of the Tongue of the Ocean are convoluted sandbars bordering channels which fall into the deeper water. These channels provide an avenue for transport of sediment off the shallow platform (3-10 meters) into the deeper water (1,800 meters).