To mark World Ocean Day, celebrated on June 8, French astronaut Sophie Adenot published an impressive photograph of Mauritius and Reunion Island taken from the International Space Station (ISS) on her official Facebook page.
Captured at an altitude of nearly 400 kilometers as part of its εpsilon mission, the image offers an exceptional view of the two islands in the Indian Ocean, located 230 kilometers apart.
The image also highlights a natural phenomenon known as » specular reflection . » Due to Réunion’s volcanic topography, a large area of the ocean is sheltered from the wind. The water’s surface is calmer there, allowing the sun’s rays to reflect off each other as if on a mirror, creating a spectacular glow visible from space.
In her Facebook post on Monday, June 8, Sophie Adenot wrote: » On the occasion of World Ocean Day, I am sharing with you this photo of two islands, with a beautiful view of the deep blue of the Indian Ocean. These two islands are Reunion and Mauritius, located 230 km apart . »
The astronaut also emphasized the importance of preserving the oceans, which she described as » one of the essential pillars of the Earth system , » recalling their fundamental role in climate regulation, biodiversity preservation, and connecting continents and cultures. » From our vantage point 400 km above the Earth, the ocean is global , » she concluded. A rare and fascinating perspective on the Mascarene Islands, which reminds us both of the beauty of our region and the need to protect this immense natural heritage that is the Indian Ocean.
source : lexpress.mu
