Earth from Space: Eerie volcanic ‘googly eyes’ peer from skull-shaped Peninsula into the sky

A pair of volcanic lakes on Nicaragua’s Chiltepe Peninsula in Lake Managua resemble a pair of eyes from space. (Image: NASA/ISS program)

A striking astronaut image captures two volcanic lakes in Nicaragua resembling a skull’s googly eyes. This optical illusion cannot be seen from ground level. The unusual scene lies on the Chiltepe Peninsula, a rounded landmass extending into Lake Managua, locally called Lago Xolotlán. Covering roughly 400 square miles, the peninsula sits around 10 miles northwest of Nicaragua’s capital city.

Formation and Unique Features of Apoyeque and Laguna Xiloá

The Chiltepe Peninsula formed from pyroclastic shield eruptions thousands of years ago. Low-density materials, including pumice, were violently ejected during these blasts, which ended approximately 17,000 years ago. However, volcanic activity continued intermittently within the past 2,000 years. The smaller lake, Apoyeque, is about 1.1 miles wide and sits inside a caldera. Laguna Xiloá, the larger lake, measures around 1.5 miles across and formed when magma interacted with groundwater.

Viewed from orbit, the lakes appear side by side, though Apoyeque sits at 1,300 feet altitude while Laguna Xiloa is near sea level. Their colours differ subtly: Laguna Xiloa appears deep blue, whereas Apoyeque shows a greenish hue. This creates a heterochromatic effect, resembling eyes of differing colours. The smaller, rounder shape of Apoyeque is an optical illusion caused by the crater rim’s alignment with Laguna Xiloa.

Volcanic History and Potential Hazards

Both lakes are technically active volcanoes, but eruptions have been rare. Laguna Xiloá last erupted roughly 6,000 years ago. Apoyeque has had four large eruptions, the last one about 50 B.C., which formed its current crater. A 2012 earthquake swarm was triggered by magma movement beneath Apoyeque but did not signal imminent activity. Scientists warn a large eruption could endanger nearby residents in Managua and Bosques de Xiloa, located along Laguna Xiloa’s shores.

NASA’s Earth Observatory highlights that this extraordinary view provides insights into Nicaragua’s volcanic history. Research on these lakes allows scientists to better comprehend volcanic creation, patterns of eruption, and possible dangers to the inhabitants.