Kentucky and Landsat

From its rolling pastures to its forested Appalachian peaks, Kentucky’s scenery offers beauty along with contrast. Rivers, including the Mississippi and the Ohio, border much of the State, and more rivers and hundreds of lakes are inside its borders. Kentucky is also home to the world’s longest known cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park, and its residents maintain long-held traditions of coal mining, farming, horse racing, and bourbon making.

Although residents and visitors have a lot to explore up close, viewing Kentucky through a long lens—one extending into space—can offer even more information about its environmental and natural resources. Landsat satellite data can help State and Federal governments monitor the quality and health of Kentucky’s lands and waters.

Here is a closer look at some of the many ways that Landsat benefits Kentucky.