Image courtesy of Nasa's Virtually Hawaii Project (copyright by P. Mouginis-Mark)

Lanai Island (20° 45' N - 157° W) lies in the rain shadow of the nearby West Maui Mountains and the resultant aridity (lack of rainfall) has made the land vulnerable to overgrazing by domestic animals.  As a consequence, some areas of Lanai have experienced excessive soil erosion and have taken on a "badlands" appearance.