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[[NASA Logo]] National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Space Shuttle Earth View Java, Indonesia


Java, Indonesia

The island of Java in Indonesia is perched above one of the deep ocean trenches in the Pacific Ocean. The volcanoes are a result of tectonic plate motion, as one plate dives below another in this "subduction zone". This plate collision also produces earthquakes and tsunamis. In addition, Indonesia experiences more volcanic eruptions than any other country in the world. 

This photograph looks east northeastward the length of Java, and features the chain of volcanoes which form the backbone of the island and run parallel to the ocean trench. The summit of each volcanic peak is rimmed with clouds to create a row of floating cloud "donuts"-which make it easy to see from space. 


[[Box]]
Possible Starting Points for Student Investigations: 
-What are the white patches? 
-Why do they form in a line? 
-Cross reference with a map to learn about the physical features of Java. 
-Why are the volcanoes in a line? 
[[/Box]]