turkeyinspace
The image shows Turkey's Lake Tersaken in full on the left as well as a portion of Lake Tuz in the upper right corner. Both of the salt lakes were captured by Japan’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite. AXA, ESA

It may look like snow in September, but the white material in the image above is actually salt from a dried up lake in Turkey.

Captured by Japan’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS), the image shows Turkey's Lake Tersaken. The lake dries up completely during the summer, exposing a massive expanse of white salt. In the upper right corner of the photo, you can also see part of Lake Tuz -- the second largest salt lake in Turkey and one of the largest in the world.

According to a statement from the European Space Agency, the area is so bright that Earth-watching satellites use it to white balance their sensors. Also noteworthy: Half of the salt consumed in Turkey comes from the larger Lake Tuz.

The ALOS used its Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type-2 instrument to capture the image.