The Isles of Scilly in the Celtic Sea
Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features the Isles of Scilly, located in the Celtic Sea southwest of Cornwall, England.
The photograph, which was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is focused on the largest of 150 islands – St. Mary’s, Tresco, St. Martin’s, Bryher, and St. Agnes.
The shallow coastal waters are a bright shade of turquoise, while the deeper waters are darker blue. According to NASA, the photo also captures swell patterns caused by waves that intersect one another as they move around the islands due to the westerly sea breeze.
The Isles of Scilly are remnants of the Cornubian Batholith, ancient volcanic rock that formed about 290 million years ago.
Tresco is home to a 19th century garden that features more than 20,000 plants from over 80 countries. The Tresco Abbey Garden was originally built as a private garden by proprietor Augustus Smith.
The isles of Scilly are also known for beautiful and rare birds. An exciting variety of birds arrive each year in the fall, and birdwatchers come from all over to catch a glimpse. Some interesting birds that can be seen on the islands include fulmars, sandwich terns, willow warblers, sand martins and swallows
Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
