Astronaut Jessica Meir captured from ISS Aïr Mountains, Niger.
The Aïr Mountains (Aïr Massif) is a triangular massif, located in northern Niger, within the Sahara. Part of the West Saharan montane xeric woodlands ecoregion, they rise to more than 1,800m and extend over 84,000km2. Lying in the midst of desert north of the 17th parallel, the Aïr plateau, with an average altitude between 500-900m , forms an island of Sahel climate which supports a wide variety of life, many pastoral and farming communities, and dramatic geological and archaeological sites. There are notable archaeological excavations in the region that illustrate the prehistoric past of this region. The endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) once existed in this region, but may now be extirpated due to human population pressures in this region. The Aïr Mountains are within the Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve, which is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers both the eastern half of the Aïr Mountains and the western sections of the Ténéré desert.
The local scenery on the ground is as follows.
Reference: Jessica Meir’s Tweet
See earthview photo gallery: LiVEARTH