Space station captures Morocco's desert marvel

An International Space Station astronaut has documented one of Morocco's most striking desert landscapes, photographing the Erg Chebbi dune field from orbit on December 21, 2023. The image provides a detailed view of this southeastern Moroccan landmark, situated near the Algerian border northeast of the Little Atlas mountains.

SciTechDaily magazine reports that the photograph, taken during ISS Expedition 70, reveals the complex structure of the region's star dunes, also known as pyramid dunes. These formations are characterized by their branching ridges, created by persistent wind patterns across the northwestern Sahara.

The natural processes behind these formations involve wind-driven sand movement, where material slides down slip faces while simultaneously being pushed upward on the windward sides, continuously building the dunes' height where sufficient sand and wind are available.

The image also captures signs of human adaptation to this desert environment. A natural aquifer sustains the town of Marzouga and its neighboring settlements, enabling agriculture and palm cultivation. Tourist infrastructure is evident through tent camps, visible as rectangular shapes from space, while vehicle tracks crisscross the northern section, indicating the area's growing tourism sector.