IDAHO — A bizarre checkerboard pattern etched into the forests of northern Idaho has captured global attention after an astronaut aboard the International Space Station snapped a striking image of the area from space. The photo reveals an enormous grid of dark and light squares surrounding the Priest River, forming a vast natural “chessboard” that spans several miles. The geometric arrangement is the result of a land management strategy dating back nearly two centuries, intended to balance timber harvesting with forest regeneration. …The image was taken on January 4, 2017, by an unnamed astronaut with the NASA/ISS program. …The origins of the chessboard pattern date back to a forest management initiative developed in the 1800s. Timber was selectively harvested from alternating squares, leaving the others untouched to maintain ecological balance and promote regeneration.