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Great Bahama Canyon
Great Bahama Canyon (dark blue) from space. This is part of a branch of the Canyon that is called the Tongue of the Ocean. The dark blue waters of this abyss contrast with the light blue waters of the shallow Great Bahama Bank, marking a depth differential of hundreds of metres. The valleys, running down from the Bank to the cliff walls of the Canyon, are etched by erosion processes. Some of this erosion occurred when the Bank was exposed by lower sea levels during the last Ice Age some 12,000 years ago. The Canyon, over 225 kilometres in length, reaches a width of 37 kilometres and a depth of 4 kilometres. Photographed on 18 April 1997 during the Mir-Space Shuttle mission NM23.
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