Global Gallery

Nirvana

Vibrant radar image showing the rugged mountainous area of southeast Tibet, about 55 miles east of the city of Lhasa. In the lower right corner is a wide valley of the Lhasa River, which is populated with Tibetan farmers and yak herders, and includes the village of Menba. Mountains in this area reach about 19,000 feet above sea level, while the valley floors lie about 14,000 feet above sea level. The Lhasa River is part of the Brahmaputra River system, one of the larger rivers in southeastern Asia eroding the Tibetan Plateau.