QUICK FACTS
Where is it? Poás Volcano National Park, Costa Rica [10.19781287, -84.238304442]
What's in the photo? The barren slopes of the Poás volcano in the middle of a rainforest
Which satellite took the photo? Landsat 8
When was it taken? March 5, 2025
This striking satellite photo shows a barren Mars-like volcano lurking in the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest. The alien landscape contains a super-acidic lake that is a "paradise" for extreme microbes and provides researchers with an excellent analog for studying potential lifeforms on the Red Planet.
