The Delta was photographed by astronauts aboard the ISS, NASA explains

Jul 29, 2014 19:47 GMT  ·  By

If I didn't know any better, I might be tempted to say that being an astronaut boils down to flying around and snapping pictures of Earth's wonders as seen from space.

Thus, folks at NASA (the US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration) have just released yet another photo showing what our planet looks like when observed from high up in the sky.

The photo, available above, was taken by the crew aboard the International Space Station, and it shows Botswana's Okavango Delta, NASA writes on its website.

Information shared with the public says that the image was obtained earlier this year, on June 6, by the Expedition 40 crew. However, the photo was only released yesterday, July 28.

“In this image, the bright line of the Okavango River shows the annual summer flood advancing from the well-watered Angolan Highlands (upper image margin),” NASA writes in the photo's description.

Furthermore, “The flood water slowly seeps across the 150 kilometer-long [100 mile] delta - supplying forests and wetlands - and finally reaches the fault-bounded lower margin of the delta in the middle of winter.”

For those unaware, the Okavango Delta is considered one of Africa's Seven Natural Wonders. This is because it supports a complex ecosystem and ensures the survival of species such as giraffes, antelopes, and elephants.