National Parks Seen by Landsat

 Biscayne National Park , located in southern Florida, was established in 1980 and extends from Miami down to Key Largo. Biscayne is the largest marine park in the U.S. National Park System, with 95% of the park located under water. It also protects the longest stretch of mangrove forest on the U.S. East Coast, and one of the most extensive stretches of coral reef in the world. 

The mangrove forests, coastal waters, and coral reefs within Biscayne maintain the unique biodiversity of the Keys by providing food and shelter for hundreds of species of wildlife. To help preserve these important ecosystems, scientists and conservationists use satellite data to analyze changes in water surface temperatures,  coral reef health , and mangrove dynamics over time. Landsat-derived maps help researchers to identify potential rehabilitation sites, set conservation priorities, and quantify ecosystems’ contributions to fisheries.  

These data can also help mitigate threats to human and wildlife health. Scientists use Landsat imagery to reveal how reefs and mangroves buffer coastal areas against natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis. By detecting differences in plant species, Landsat can also help assess the ecological and biophysical impacts of  invasive species  in the Keys that can threaten native species and harm the ecosystem. 

 Learn more about Landsat’s critical role in managing ecosystems and biodiversity.  

Established in 1964, Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah. There are over 330,000 acres of desert eroded into deep canyons, flat-topped mesas, tall buttes, natural arches, and colorful spires by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Many of these features are visible from space. 

Beyond providing invaluable scientific benefits, Landsat can reveal the beauty of our natural world from a new angle. From the view of a satellite, the southwest corner of the park—dubbed "The Maze District"—looks like a labyrinth of canyons and towering rock walls. 

Other features help show us the history of our planet. In the rust-colored Needles District south of the Colorado River, series of parallel valleys are visible. These valleys, called grabens, were formed with blocks of rock sank between geologic faults. 

The Island in the Sky District is the large mesa between the Green and Colorado rivers. Tributaries to these major rivers have cut steep-walled canyons exposing layers of sedimentary rock. As the softer surrounding rock layers eroded away over millions of years, a harder White Rim Sandstone was left behind exposing a rim that can be seen from space as a bright, curving line around the canyons.  

The White Rim Trail, one of the most famous features in the park, is a 100-mile (160 km) loop that follows this prominent white sandstone shelf around the Island in the Sky mesa. This steep and winding trail is popular with off-road vehicles, mountain bikers, and hikers who seek breathtaking panorama views of the canyons, mesas, and buttes. 

 Cape Hatteras , our nation's first national seashore, is one of the islands that make up the Outer Banks of North Carolina. These islands, called barrier islands, protect the mainland from the ocean. Every year, nearly 3 million people visit this popular vacation spot to enjoy its beautiful beaches and warm water. 

Before becoming a national seashore, the Outer Banks were also a haven for pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries. Located near the fast Gulf Stream current, the network of barrier islands was the perfect place for pirates to hide after stealing from the ships sailing goods along the coast.   

Part of the appeal for pirates was that the shallow waters and shifting sandbars of the Outer Banks are tricky for ships to safely navigate. Big storms can also whip up strong winds and waves, pushing ships onto these sandbars. Over the years, many ships have wrecked in these dangerous waters, earning the area the nickname "The Graveyard of the Atlantic." From pirate ships to WWII vessels, hundreds of ships have met their end here." 

To ease the journey of ships through the waters of the Outer Banks, researchers have relied on satellites to better understand the region’s shifting sandbars. Landsat can help map the depth of the water—a process called satellite-derived bathymetry. Landsat can identify new shoals and help determine where new hydrographic surveys are needed most. Updating maps of these shoals is essential to help ships navigate the ever-changing coastal waters.  

 Learn more about how scientists use Landsat data to monitor coastal regions.  

 Crater Lake National Park  is one of the oldest parks in the United States, established in southern Oregon in 1902 by President Theodore Roosevelt. The first lodge in the park opened in 1915, and Rim Drive—a scenic highway around the lake—was built to provide easy access to the entire lake in 1918.  

If we could look back thousands of years, the area would look quite different. Mount Mazama—the volcano which now houses Crater Lake—was once active. After a massive eruption approximately 7,700 years ago, Mount Mazama collapsed, forming a deep, bowl-shaped caldera. Over time, this caldera filled with rain and snowmelt, creating the clear, deep lake seen today.  

Though we can't see 7,700 years into the past, we can observe Crater Lake from above with data from Earth-observing satellites like Landsat. This is especially important in winter months, when abundant snowfall in the region prevents access to the park. Despite the snowy winter, the lake’s surface remains unfrozen most years due to the lake’s huge volume of water and relatively small surface area. At 1,943 feet (592 meters) deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and among the deepest in the world. The last time the lake froze over was in 1949.  

Landsat is keeping tabs on how Crater Lake National Park responds to climate change by allowing researchers to monitor the lake's water quality, temperature, and surrounding ecosystems over time. 

 Cuyahoga Valley National Park , located between the Ohio cities of Cleveland and Akron, is home to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. The land was first designated the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area in 1974 to protect undeveloped land between industrial cities. It became a national park in 2000 and consistently ranks as one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Cuyahoga Valley supports diverse wildlife and ecosystems, making it a vital green space for local communities. However, the area is prone to pollution; an oil spill in 1969 caught fire and led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Data from Landsat satellites have been instrumental in improving water quality in the area. The data allow researchers to measure the presence of pollutants, water surface temperature, and the amount of suspended matter in the water, all crucial indicators of water quality. Insights from Landsat observations and measurements support preservation efforts for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, ensuring it remains a viable habitat for wildlife and safe resource for visitors.

The future of Landsat, a trio of satellites called  Landsat Next , will capture more frequent observations at higher resolution, providing earlier detection of harmful algal blooms, a serious hazard to human and wildlife health. 

 Learn more about Landsat’s critical role in protecting human health.  

Southeast Alaska’s  Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve  was established as a national monument in 1925 and later designated as a national park and preserve in 1980. One of the largest protected areas in the world, the park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a UN Biosphere Reserve. Glacier Bay is home to 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, thousands of glaciers, temperate rainforest, wild coastlines and deep sheltered fjords. This diverse landscape supports hundreds of species of wildlife. 

Like much of Alaska, Glacier Bay has no road access. Instead, scientists rely on data from the Landsat series of satellites to safely monitor the ever-changing landscapes of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Spectral measurements from Landsat’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) allow researchers to track glacial retreat, assess changes in vegetation, and understand the impacts of  climate change  on the park’s environment and ecosystems. 

With the launch of  Landsat Next  in 2031, enhancements in temporal, spatial, and spectral resolutions will enable scientists to track glacial retreat more precisely. An improved temporal revisit of 6 days from Landsat’s current 16-day revisit will increase the probability of acquiring cloud-free scenes, making it easier for scientists to study dynamic landscapes like Glacier Bay.

 Learn more about Landsat’s critical role in understanding climate change.  

Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States, protects one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Visitors come to the park to hike the canyon trails, camp under the stars, and boat down the Colorado River. 

The canyon stretches over 277 miles (446 km) long and spans up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, showcasing remarkable geologic formations carved by the Colorado River over the last 5-6 million years. From space, the canyon looks like a large, winding scar surrounded by a landscape of reddish-brown and orange hues of ancient rock, with the Colorado River resembling a thin, dark ribbon snaking through the bottom of the canyon. 

This river is a vital water source, serving millions of people and supporting agriculture in the arid Southwest. The water flow is controlled by a series of dams that create reservoir lakes, such as  Lake Powell , formed by the Glen Canyon Dam, and  Lake Mead , formed by the Hoover Dam. These reservoirs are essential for water storage, irrigation, and power generation. 

However, increasing water demand and a changing climate have placed additional strain on the region's water supply, particularly along the Colorado River.  Data from Landsat satellites  have allowed scientists to monitor changing water levels over the past five decades.  

Virginia’s  Shenandoah National Park  offers a forested retreat for residents in the sprawling urban areas around the nation's capital. Forests and other greenspaces help filter pollutants from farms and urban areas and prevent them from contaminating waterways that feed the Chesapeake Bay. Land covered with impervious surfaces, like pavement and rooftops, allow more rain to wash pollutants into nearby creeks and streams and eventually into the Bay. Understanding changes in land cover is helping efforts to improve water quality of the Bay.

Landsat images from 1984, 1992, 2001, and 2006 provided the  first analysis of land cover trends  of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and confirmed accelerating loss of forest cover, loss of farmland, and an increase in urban development.  Another study  found that impervious cover in the watershed increased by 41 percent between 1990 and 2000, while the human population grew by just 8 percent.  

These studies, which rely on Landsat data, have helped set pollution limits, encourage smarter development, and engage the public on the importance of conserving open land and planting trees to improve the Bay’s water quality. The data has also helped protect wildlife by analyzing and predicting habitat loss in areas such as the Shenandoah River basins.