Space Station Snapshot: The Untamed Terrain of Tasmania

The island is Australia’s smallest state, but its mainland fills the frame of this astronaut photograph.

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) took this photo of Australia’s island state of Tasmania while the station orbited almost directly overhead. From this vantage point, the island’s broad geographic features stand out, including its rugged terrain and coasts.

Contrasting Landscapes: Coastlines and Interior
Along the west coast, a line of bright tan beaches contrasts with the darker waters and mountainous interior. Clouds cover much of the northern part of the island. Mainland Tasmania spans about 400 kilometers (250 miles) at its widest, from roughly north to south. Some of the state’s smaller islands lie outside the scope of this scene, including several in the Bass Strait. The strait separates Tasmania from the nearby Australian mainland.