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[[image of NASA logo]] National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Space Shuttle Earth View 
Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana

Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana

This near vertical photograph shows the distribution of muddy fresh water from the Mississippi River as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. New Orleans, with its surrounding urban area, is highly reflective and appears at top center. Light colored streaks of developed land extend on natural levees along the ancient La Fourche Delta west of the current delta and near the top left of the photo. The Chandeleur Islands east of the present Mississippi Delta (center right) are remnants of yet an older delta lobe.

Possible Starting Points for Student Investigations:

• Look at the overall shapes, the colors of the water and the land, the motion and fluidity implied by the textures and patterns. What do you recognize? What surprises you?

-What are the light brown patterns?

-What is the branching pattern?

-Why is the city (New Orleans) located on the river but away from the coast?

-Why does the river have such sharply defined banks?

-What caused the islands?

-Which way are the ocean currents flowing?

• How do deltas relate to human history? Why is New Orleans located on the delta?

• How has the delta changed over time?—Current images give hints about the past, but your students may need to refer to geology or other related references to the formation and development of the Mississippi.



Mississippi River Delta, Lousiana
January 24-27, 1985
Linhof Camera, 250mm lens

Transcription Notes:
I wasn't sure how to format the bullet points.