Earth from space: Deep tidal channels cut between 'pirate hotspot' islands in the Bahamas

This striking shot, captured by an unnamed astronaut aboard the ISS in 2015, shows deep tidal channels cutting through the seafloor between a series of small islands, or cays, once used by pirates in the Bahamas.

The line of cays stretches around 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) outward from southwest Great Exuma Island in the Exuma district of the Caribbean nation. From left to right, the named land masses are Bowe Cay, Hummingbird Cay, Culmer's Cay, Tommy Young's Cay, Davy Cay, Hog Cay, and Green Turtle Cay. (Some of the smallest cays are unnamed.) Part of the Great Exuma coast is also visible in the top right of the photo.

Exuma contains more than 360 individual islands and is located to the west of most of the other larger Bahamian islands. As a result, the Indigenous Lucayan people, who were enslaved and removed from the islands by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, referred to the region as Curateo, meaning "outer far distant land."

Deep tidal channels can be seen between each landmass. These channels were created as water moved back and forth between the cays with the rise and fall of the tides, cutting through the seafloor like a hacksaw, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. Each channel is hundreds of feet deep, while the surrounding lighter-blue sea is only 80 feet (24 meters) deep.

Related: See all the best images of Earth from space

The dark-blue lines are a distinctive feature when viewed from space. "For astronauts, this is one of the most recognizable points on the planet," NASA representatives wrote.

In the past, Exuma's cays were a hotspot for pirate activity because they were a great place to set up bases and hide treasure, according to the Earth Observatory.