Nasa has released a new image of the Grand Canyon from the International Space Station.

The image, of northern Arizona, is a favourite for astronauts shooting from space. It shows the steep walls of the Colorado River and the side canyons that make up the landscape.

Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon seen from space Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre

"The Grand Canyon has become a geologic icon—a place where you can almost sense the invisible tectonic forces within the Earth. The North and South Rims are part of the Kaibab Plateau, a gentle tectonic swell in the landscape," Nasa said.

"The uplift of the plateau had two pronounced effects on the landscape that show up in this image. First, in drier parts of the world, forests usually indicate higher places; higher altitudes are cooler and wetter, conditions that allow trees to grow.

"The other geologic lesson on view is the canyon itself. Geologists now know that a river can cut a canyon only if the Earth surface rises vertically. If such uplift is not rapid, a river can maintain its course by eroding huge quantities of rock and forming a canyon."

IBTimes UK looks at other images of Earth from the ISS.

Islands of the Four Mountains
Islands of the Four Mountains, part of the Aleutian Island chain Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Kavir Desert, Iran
Kavir Desert, Iran Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Mount Etna, Sicily
Mount Etna, Sicily Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Fires around Darwin, Australia
Fires around Darwin, Australia Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Paraná River Floodplain, Brazil
Paraná River Floodplain, Brazil Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
Pyramids at Giza, Egypt Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Okavango Swamp, Botswana
Okavango Swamp, Botswana Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
Bazman Volcano, Iran
Bazman Volcano, Iran Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Centre
NASA