The 100 m false-colour image of 11 August 2017 shows us Chaunskaya Bay, the largest bay of the East-Siberian Sea, Russia. The large island in the west is called Ayon.
Pevek is a port town located just southeast of the two small islands east of Ayon. Apparently Pevek is the northern-most town in Asia.
The two islands are Bolshoy Routan Island (larger) and Malyy Routan Island (smaller one). Ayon is inhabited by the Chukchi people. The Chukchi are indigenous to the area and many still practice a semi-nomadic lifestyle, hunting marine wildlife and herding reindeer.
The island, peninsula and delta is peppered by lakes and is clearly a wetland habitat with many rivers draining into the bay especially the Chaun river.
Chaunskaya Guba is a natural reserve or zakaznik in Russian. Eight species of whale have been reported here with only 3 common species: Beluga, Gray and Bowhead whale. Walrus and four species of seal are reported from here while the Polar Bear is common. Several Eider species migrate from the east into the Bay during the Spring. The bay itself is dominated by Bivalves.
Ayon is also a seabird colony with nearly 10,000 individuals. The wetlands are rich in plant communities typically known as salt marsh vegetation. It consists of sedges, grasses, herbs of the families: Cyperaceae, Pooaceae and Rosaceae typically native to the Arctic. Notice the distinct spectral light brown of North Ayon island indicative of a Poacea dominant habitat.
The hills inland of Pevek are part of the Chukotsky range and are composed of granite dated to 100 million years ago. These are dark brown in colour sitting above the green mat of vegetation. These hills can be seen around Pevek as well.
Chintan Sheth from India is the winner of our 4th PROBA-V Quiz! Congratulations!