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[S 7129] Shuttle photograph showing the majority of the island of Madagascar. Geographers observing the region report that the island is now largely deforested and suffers from severe soil erosion and declining diversity and productivity of biological species. Evidence of soil erosion and sedimentation along the coast may be seen in the stream widening visible here, the delta progradation along the west coast (bottom) and the brown plumes offshore where soil is being washed out to sea. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/NASA) === === [Stockbild-Archiv]