English: On October 4, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of colorful eddies in the waters of the Sea of Azov.

Well known for turbidity, primarily caused by sediment deposition and swirling waters caused by the inflow of several freshwater rivers, the Sea of Azov is currently surrounded by the tumult of warfare. Ukraine sits along the northern shores, Russia to the southeast, and the Crimean Peninsula in the west. The colorful waters flow into the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait, which is located along the southern shore of the Sea of Azov.

Milky greens and pinks on the western shore of the Sea mark a network of shallow, marshy inlets, lakes, and lagoons known as Syvash. The lakes are hypersaline but are home to numerous species of salt-loving microorganisms which, when they are present in high numbers, can turn the water shades of orange, yellow, or pink. The largest lake, Syvash Lake, typically appears bright pink when viewed from space.