An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured stunning images of the Quirimbas Islands near Tanzania’s border in Mozambique on November 24, 2021.

The 32 tiny islands extend 200 miles along the coastline and are connected to the mainland by a network of mangroves, sand bars, and coral reefs. The shallow coral formations, sand, and seagrass are showcased by the light blue-green waters surrounding the islands.

The Quirimbas Islands are a rich and diverse habitat for a variety of plants and animals. There are 3,000 floral species present, with 1,000 being unique to the islands. The waters of the archipelago are also home to 52 species of corals, 140 species of mollusks, eight species of marine mammals, and five species of turtles.

Vamizi, one of the largest islands in the Quirimbas Archipelago, is a crucial nesting ground for hawksbill and green turtles. In the period between 2019 to 2020, as many as 170 green turtle nests were recorded on the island, making it the largest nesting site for the species in Mozambique.