A satellite captured unusual red streaks in the middle of a desert in Morocco

The European Sentinel-2 satellite captured an unusual image of a desert near the Anti-Atlas Mountains in Morocco. 

It shows branching red streaks tens of kilometers long that initially resembled lava flows.

 However, as explained by the European Space Agency (ESA), these are not volcanic formations. 

The red color is artificial and resulted from the characteristics of satellite imagery in the infrared spectrum. In reality, the stripes are vegetation along seasonal rivers that fill with water mainly in winter and spring.

Such images help researchers monitor the state of water resources and vegetation in arid regions. This is particularly relevant for Morocco, as the country is suffering from a prolonged drought and water shortages.

Source: European Space Agency (ESA)

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