NASA MODIS Image of the Day: April 13, 2007 – The Yucatan Peninsula
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This image, acquired by the MODIS on the Terra satellite, shows the Yucatan Peninsula on April 11, 2007. The Yucatan Peninsula, part of Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico.
The Yucatan is home to many Mayan archaeological sites – some of the most well known are Chichen Itza, Tikal, Tulum and Uxmal.
It is theorized that the dinosaurs were extincted by an asteroid that hit the Yucatan Peninsula. The site of this impact, called the Chicxulub Crater, is centered on the modern town of Chicxulub. This town is easily visible in this image, as a large gray patch near the top left of the peninsula. For more information, see this Wikipedia entry on the Chicxulub Crater.
