
Quick facts
Where is she? Dukan Lake, Iraq [36.10370026, 44.918436632]
What’s in the picture? A giant man-made lake that resembles a festively decorated “Christmas tree.”
Who took the photo? European astronaut Alex Gerst aboard the International Space Station
When was it taken? December 3, 2018
This 2018 photo taken by an astronaut shows an unusual triangle-shaped “Christmas Tree” lake in Iraq, which appears to be decorated for the holidays with a mix of natural, artificial and fake decorations.
Dokan Lake is a man-made reservoir that was completely formed in 1959 after the completion of Dokan Dam – a massive hydroelectric dam near the city of Rania in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The large tree-shaped triangle extends up to 6 miles (10 km) from its “base” to its “apex”; A small, tall branch appears to hang from the top of the tree like a wonky star, where the dam empties into the Little Zab River, according to researchers. NASA Earth Observatory.
While the lake is not known locally for its festive appearance, it is a sought-after landmark for astronauts aboard the International Space Station during the holidays. “Looking down from space, landmarks on Earth appear in many familiar shapes — and Lake Dukan looks like a Christmas tree,” NASA representatives wrote.
Festive decorations
In the astronaut portrait (above), additional festive decorations are on display. First, the tree is covered in ornamental-like green swirls, which are the result of algae blooms on the surface of the lake, caused by warm weather and agricultural drainage. Second, about a dozen black dots are scattered across the tree like decorations.
However, unlike the flowery decorations, the mysterious decorations are not present. Instead, the spots are artifacts in the image caused by a phenomenon called lens flare in the astronaut’s camera, where light is scattered by slight imperfections in the camera lens, according to the Earth Observatory.
Related to: See the best pictures of Earth from space
The lake has turned into a popular tourist destination in recent decades thanks to its artificial beaches and excellent fishing. However, some experts are concerned that these activities threaten the diverse ecosystem that has emerged in the lake since its creation.
The reservoir is home to about 180 species of mainly birds and fish, as well as some rare species including Eurasian otters (Lutra Lutra(and striped hyenas)Hyena hyenaBoth are threatened with extinction, according to… Birdlife International (indeed). However, the lake has never been properly assessed and is under “very high” pressure from tourism activities, BLI representatives wrote.
Lake Dukan is also surrounded by several important archaeological sites, including the Paleolithic Hazar Merd Cave, or “Cave of a Thousand Men,” dating back about 50,000 years. The area also includes several ancient castles and a collection of 4,000-year-old sculptures, known as the Jawar Strait Sculptures, according to Anatolia News Agency. Kurdistan Tourism Board. Most of these places are located in the nearby Zagros Mountains.