Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured an image of the Colorado River Delta along Baja California, Mexico. Once a thriving estuarine system where the Colorado River flowed into the Gulf of California, the delta has undergone dramatic changes due to significant water diversion and dam construction, including the Parker and Hoover Dams. The river’s flow has been drastically reduced to support urban use and agricultural irrigation, leaving much of the floodplain dry. The Mexicali Valley, a heavily farmed region, occupies part of the former delta and connects with California’s Imperial Valley.
The remaining delta landscape consists of islands, channels, and salt flats shaped by sedimentation and limited water flow. High evaporation rates have left behind salt-encrusted areas, and strong tidal currents now redistribute sediment, causing visible brown plumes. Adjacent to the delta, the Desierto de Altar features vast sand dunes with sparse vegetation, while the Sierra las Pintas are marked by striking red and black rocks. The city of San Luis Río Colorado, positioned between the desert and agricultural lands, appears light gray in the image.
