Views of Earth from space bring ordinary seeming objects into strange focus. This view from NASA's Terra spacecraft reveals what at first seems a highly improbable circle of perfect distinction around Egmont National Park in New Zealand. Can you guess what it is?

At the center is the extinct volcano of Mt. Taranaki. The mountain was originally named Mt. Egmont by Captain Cook.

Since the area has a high rainfall rate and mild coastal climate, there is a lush rainforest covering the foothills, changing to subalpine and alpine shrub lands at high elevations, NASA scientists explain. The natural area stands in stark contrast to the surrounding pasture farmlands, creating the amazing "crop circle" of a different sort.

The image is a simulated natural color view provided by Terra's Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument. It covers an area of 53.4 x 49.4 kilometers). The picture was acquired on May 27, 2001, and released this month.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team