Long Reef
- ISS002-357-21
- 2001
- time unknown
This false-color image shows the large and unusual formation known as Long Reef, located westwards of Cape Bougainville at the extreme northern end of the Bonaparte Archipelago.
The reef extends in a northeast to southwesterly direction before turning abruptly to the southeast and has a maximum length of 28 km. Much of the reef becomes exposed at low tide, rising up to 3-4 m out of the water. In addition to exposed reef, there are also large areas of drying sand that are revealed as the tide recedes. The only permanent land is Sandy Islet in the north.
image: earth sciences and image analysis laboratory, nasa johnson space center