Images
June 7, 2026 - Dijibouti
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The landscape of Djibouti is dominated by dark volcanic rock, giving the small country a stark and rugged appearance when viewed from space. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this stunning true-color image centered on Djibouti on June 5, 2026.
With a hot, dry climate, plant life tends to be sparse and dominated by thorny shrubs and grasses. However, the higher elevations near Moussa Ali (Mount Moussa) allows for the growth of olive, juniper, and acacia trees. Mount Moussa is the highest point in this African country, peaking at 6,654 feet (2,028 meters) and is found near the point where Djibouti meets both Eritrea and Egypt. In this image, a portion of the mountain can be seen close to the northwestern (upper left) corner.
This image also captures the lowest point in Djibouti—the hypersaline Lake Assal. The lake wears a thick, bright white mineral salt crust and sits at about 509 feet (155 meters) below sea level. Lake Assal is the wintering home for millions of flamingoes which flock together to create a spectacular show of pink across a stark background of tan. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/5/2026
Resolutions:
1km (102.1 KB), 500m (273.3 KB), 250m (484.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The landscape of Djibouti is dominated by dark volcanic rock, giving the small country a stark and rugged appearance when viewed from space. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this stunning true-color image centered on Djibouti on June 5, 2026.
With a hot, dry climate, plant life tends to be sparse and dominated by thorny shrubs and grasses. However, the higher elevations near Moussa Ali (Mount Moussa) allows for the growth of olive, juniper, and acacia trees. Mount Moussa is the highest point in this African country, peaking at 6,654 feet (2,028 meters) and is found near the point where Djibouti meets both Eritrea and Egypt. In this image, a portion of the mountain can be seen close to the northwestern (upper left) corner.
This image also captures the lowest point in Djibouti—the hypersaline Lake Assal. The lake wears a thick, bright white mineral salt crust and sits at about 509 feet (155 meters) below sea level. Lake Assal is the wintering home for millions of flamingoes which flock together to create a spectacular show of pink across a stark background of tan. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/5/2026
Resolutions:
1km (102.1 KB), 500m (273.3 KB), 250m (484.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
