Views of the Earth

Mount McKinley is the highest peak of the Alaska Range and also the highest mountain in North America (6194m). The glaciers visible in this view are (from left to right) the Ruth Glacier and Eldridge Glacier draining south into the Chulitna River and the Muldrow Glacier on the north side.

View from north across the Alaska Range with Mount McKinley (6194m), the Cook Inlet with the city of Anchorage behind and in the background the Kenai Peninsula.

The southwestern part of the Alps at the border between France and Italy with (from right to left) the Maritime Alps, the Cottian Alps, the Dauphiné Alps and the Graian Alps. Behind the Mont Blanc and the other highest peaks of the Alps. On the right of the view the Italian region of Piedmont near Turin can be seen. On the far left southern Germany.

The Rhône River originates from the Rhône glacier on the right of this view (not directly visible from this perspective) and flows through the Valais between the snow covered peaks of the Pennine Alps (left) and the Bernese Alps (right). In the background, north of the Mont Blanc the course of the Rhône turns north and it enters into the Lake Geneva (far right). In the very near foreground the upmost tributaries of the Rhine river can be seen.

The highest peaks of the Alps are located in the western part in Switzerland, France and Italy. This view shows on the far left the Mont Blanc (4807m). Separated by the Great St. Bernard Pass the highest peaks of southern Switzerland and at the border between Switzerland and Italy, among others from right to left the Weisshorn (4506m), the Matterhorn (4478m) and the Dufourspitze (4638m). North of the Valais the Bernese Alps and in the background the Peaks of eastern Switzerland and Austria. On the right south of the Pennine Alps the Aosta Valley in northern Italy.

The highest peaks of the Alps are located in the western part in Switzerland, France and Italy. This view shows on the far left the Mont Blanc (4807m). Separated by the Great St. Bernard Pass the highest peaks of southern Switzerland and at the border between Switzerland and Italy, among others from right to left the Weisshorn (4506m), the Matterhorn (4478m) and the Dufourspitze (4638m). North of the Valais the Bernese Alps and in the background the Peaks of eastern Switzerland and Austria. On the right south of the Pennine Alps the Aosta Valley in northern Italy.

The Maritime Alps mark the eastern end of the Provence and the border between France (foreground) and Italy (background). In the near foreground the Verdon river and the upper part of the Verdon Gorge can be seen. In the background the higher parts of the western Alps and the Po Basin in northern Italy.

This view shows the Bernese Alps from the north with the Reuss on the left entering into the Lake Lucerne in the foreground. behind the Rhône valley and the highest peaks of the alps and at the horizon the southwestern bow of the Alps.

The western end of the Alps forms a southward bow and edges to the Mediterranean Sea near Monaco seperating the Provence in France (right foreground) from the Po Basin. On the right you can see the northern end of the Apennine Mountains.

The Andaman Islands are the tops of a undersea mountain range in the Bay of Bengal ranging from Myanmar to Sumatra. They are mostly covered by tropical Rainforest.

This view south of Lake Titicaca and near the Bolivian capital La Paz shows the Andes where they are broadest forming a wide plateau (the Altiplano). In the foreground you can see the green rainforest of eastern Bolivia, in the background at the coast the Atacama desert.

The western ridge of the Andes near the border between Peru and Chile is dominated by a large number of volcanic mountains. In the foreground among others the Nevado Sajama, Patilla Pata, Parinacota, Nevado Anallajsi and Macizo de Pacuni.

View across the Altiplano between Lake Titicaca on the right and Poopó on the left. In the background there is the coast of southern Peru near Arequipa.

Where the the Amazon river and its tributaries descend from the Andes they form deep valleys between the Mountain peaks. In the background the highest peaks of southern Peru can be seen near to the Pacific coast.

Between the Volcanoes of the Andes in southern Peru, like the Coropuna (6377m), deep Canyons divide the Mountain ridges. On the far right the Lake Titicaca can be seen.

The Colca Canyon in southern Peru is one of the deepest canyons on Earth. Left of the Canyon the Volcanoes Ubinas, El Misti, Nevado Chachani, Ampato and Coropuna (from right to left) can be seen. On the far right there is the south end of Lake Titicaca and in the far background the Amazon basin.

Mount Ararat is the place where according to Christian, Jewish and Islamic belief Noah's Ark settled after the Great Flood. Southeast of the main, snow covered mountain there is the Little Mount Ararat and in the far background the Kaukasus can be seen.

The Arches National Park is a region in Utah with various unique sandstone formations created by erosion including lots of arch shaped structures. In the background behind the Colorado River the city of Moab and the La Sal Mountains can be seen.

The Grand Canyon is a more than 1500m deep Canyon carved into the rocks of Arizona, USA by the Colorado River. This view shows the whole canyon from north with Delano Peak in the foreground on the right.

The characteristic rock formations of the Monument Valley result from the erosion of the rocks of the Colorado Plateau. This is a view from the east with Lake Powell in the background.

This view from the north shows the entry of the Colorado River into the Grand Canyon. The north rim is much higher and wetter than the south rim and therefore forested resulting in a deep green coloring.

The Atlas mountain range in Morocco and Algeria is the only region in northern Africa with regular seasonal snowfall. This image shows the highest part in Morocco with the 4167m high Jbel Toubkal.

The High Atlas in Morocco is snow covered in winter and the only winter sport region in Africa. This view shows the highest part around Jbel Toubkal (4167m) from the west.

The Bosporus connects the Black sea (foreground) to the Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean Sea. At the strait lies the city of Istanbul. In the far background the Dardanelles and behind several of the Aegean islands can be seen.

Between the Bosporus (background) and the Dardanelles (foreground) lies the Sea of Marmara connecting the Black sea to the Mediterranean Sea and marking the border between Asia and Europe. South of the Sea of Marmara the lakes Kuş Gölü Ulubat Gölü İznik Gölü and Sapanca Gölü can be seen.

The Tsangpo Gorge is the canyon where the Yarlung Tsangpo coming from the Tibetan Plateau cuts through the ridge of the Himalaya Mountains. The altitude difference from the bottom of the valley to the peaks of the adjacent mountains (the Namcha Barwa on the left) is more than 5000m at a distance of just about 20km.

The eastern end of the Himalaya Mountains is marked by the Namcha Barwa (7782m) in the center of this view. North of it the Yarlung Tsangpo river crosses the main mountain ridge in a deep canyon to later become the Bramaputra. In the background the Himalaya continues between the Tibetan Plateau on the right and the plains of northern India on the far left.

The Namcha Barwa (7782m) on the right and the Gyala Peri on the left (7294m) are a pair of mountain peaks that flank the Tsangpo Gorge where the Yarlung Tsangpo river descends from the Tibetan Plateau in a deep and narrow valley. Behind the mountains of eastern Tibet.

View from southwest onto the eastmost part of the Himalaya Mountains on the left with the upper Bramaputra (called Siang here) on the right in Arunachal Pradesh at the northeastern end of India and behind the mountains and valleys of sourtheastern Tibet.

The Baramaputra River forms in the plains of northeastern India from multiple tributaries coming from the mountains around. The most important is the Yarlung Tsangpo coming from the Tibetan Plateau in the background right. After joining with the other rivers the Bramaputra leaves the area of this view on the left towards the Bay of Bengal.

The Yigong Tsangpo (from background) and Palung Tsangpo (from foreground) together form a straight long valley flanking the eastern end of the Himalaya. In the center left of this view they cross through the mountains to join the Yarlung Tsangpo from the west to later form the Bramaputra.

The Bryce Canyon is in fact not a canyon but the eroded edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau where wind and water have carved bizarre forms into the rocks. The Bryce Canyon National Park covers most of the eastern edge of the plateau in the center of this view.

View of the Bryce Canyon from east. In the background right the eastmost parts of the Great Basin can be seen.

The Canary Islands are a group of islands of volcanic origin near the north African coast. In the foreground there is Tenerife with the highest peak, the Pico de Teide (3718 m), behind Gran Canaria and in the background Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

The Canary Islands seen from the east with (from foreground to background) Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma (right) and El Hierro.

The Canary Islands seen from the northwest. In the foreground the island of La Palma with the characteristic Cumbre Vieja ridge. Behind Tenerife (left) and La Gomera (right), Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. At the horizon the barren desert coast of Africa can be seen.

Before entering into Lake Powell in the background of this view the Colorado river passes by the Cities of Castle Valley and Moab north of the La Sal Mountain Range in the foreground left. In the far background the Henry Mountains (right) and Navajo Mountain (left) can be seen.

The meanders of the Green River before it joins the Colorado River coming from the background of this view are located in the Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The cliffs and valleys carved by the water into the Colorado Plateau form an impressive scenery. In the background the La Sal Mountains.

The Western Cape region of South Africa, view from the east across the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges. The southmost point of the African Continent, the Cape Agulhas, can be seen on the left and the Cape of Good Hope in the far background.

The Waterpocket Fold extents north from the Colorado River in Utah and forms the landscape in the Capitol Reef National Park shown in this view. Left of the fold the Boulder Mountain can be seen.

The Henry Mountains in Utah from northeast with the northern parts of the Capitol Reef National Park in the foreground.

Lake Powell is a large reservoir created by the Glen Canyon Dam in the valley of the Colorado river in southern Utah. This view shows the nothern end of it with the Henry Mountains in the background.

At the northwestern end of Southern America in Colombia the mountain ridge of the Andes branches into several chains, from right to left the Cordillera Occidental, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental. Separated from them and directly at the coast the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. In the background behind the Isthmus of Panama the Pacific Ocean.

The Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria can be seen in the center of this view ranging across the whole image width. Behind the plane of the Danube River and in the background the Carpathian Mountains. In the foreground the mountains of southern Bulgaria with the Rila range and the highest peak Musala (2925m) can be seen.

After the crossing between the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkan Mountains in the gorge called Iron Gate the Danube River flows at the border between Romania and Bulgaria, then turns north and reaches the Black Sea in the far background.

View from the West across the Dzungarian Gate into the Dzungarian Basin. In the foreground left Lake Alakol in Kazachstan, in the background right the Tian Shan mountain range.

The Dzungarian Gate is a pass between China and Kazakhstan dividing the Alatau mountain range. It has been an important trade route in ancient times between central and east Asia. Several endorheic lakes can be seen on both sides of the pass. In the near foreground there are the snow covered peaks of the Tian Shan.

The Great African Rift Valley is a large breach in the crust of the earth where the African continent showly splits into two parts. Many lakes can be seen along the rift, among them the Lake Victoria, the largest lake of Africa.

The Dolomites are a relatively low altitude but uniquely formed region of the Alps in the southeast in northern Italy. The highest peak, the Marmolata (3342m), can be seen in the center of this view.

The Ötztal Alps in Western Austria with the Inn valley in the foreground and South Tyrol behind. In the background the Adriatic Sea.

This view shows the eastern Alps from the south near Lake Garda up the valley of the Etsch/Adige river and with the Brenner Pass, the lowest altitude crossing of the Alps, in the background.

The Alps mountains are the highest mountain range in Europe. They separate the plains of Northern Italy on the left from Central Europe with Germany on the right and France in the background. This view shows the whole Alps west of Dachstein on the right and the Niedere Tauern on the left including all peaks above 3000m. In the far background left the Pyrenees can be seen.

This view shows most of Eastern Europe with the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea at the bottom including Italy and Greece as well as the Islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily on the left and the countless Islands of the Aegean Sea on the right. On the far right you can see Western Turkey and further north the Black Sea and the plains of Ukraine and southern Russia. The center of this view is dominated by the Alps and Carpathian Mountains and the Hungarian Plain in between. Further north the lowlands on Poland and Belarus and the Baltic Sea can be seen as well.

The Mediterranean Sea forms the natural southern border of Europe separating it from northern Africa with the Sahara desert visible in the background of this view. Nearly the full width of the sea can be seen in this view from the Strait of Gibraltar on the far right to the Island of Rhodos on the left leaving only the eastmost part out of view. In the foreground the mountains and plains of southeastern Europe can be seen including the snow covered mountains of the Alps on the right.

Southeastern Europe seen from an unusual perspective. Italy and Greece on the right with the Mediterranean Sea behind. The green Nile delta is well visible in the background in front of the northern end of the Red Sea. On the left the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains north of Turkey. In the center of this view the bow of the Carpathian Mountains can be seen.

The Alborz Mountain range separates the Iranian plateau from the Caspian Sea. In contrast to the dry plateau the north side of the mountains and the coastal plains are humid and green. In the foreground the Sefid River crosses through the mountains and enters into the Caspian Sea near the city of Rasht.

Mount Damavand is the highest Peak (5604m) of the Alborz Mountains in northern Iran. South of the mountains lies the Iran capital Tehran and north of them the Caspian Sea.

The Queen Elizabeth Islands are the northmost islands in Canada and for a large part of the year mostly covered by snow and ice. This view shows most of the Islands with Ellesmere Island - the largest - in the foreground, Axel Heiberg Island behind and in the background among others Cornwall Island, Amund Ringnes Island, Ellef Ringnes Island and Meighen Island.

Ellesmere Island is the largest of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in northern Canada. It is separated by Greenland in the background by the Smith Sound. This view shows the southern part of the island from the Nansen Sound with Axel Heiberg Island on the right.

Axel Heiberg Island is one of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in the far north of Canada west of the Ellesmere Island in the background. The northern part of the island is the location of unique fossil forests.

Where the Ethiopian Highlands rise from the lower plains of the northern end of the Rift Valley erosion of the rivers has cut countless valleys and gorges into the rocks. The rift valley continues to the south west with several lakes south of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

At the north end on its African continental section the Great Rift Valley forms a triangular depression called the Afar Triangle. In the foreground the rift separates the Ethiopian Highlands (left) from the Harar hills (right). In the background the Bab-el-Mandeb and behind the Arabian Peninsula can be seen.

Western Europe seen from south with the Iberian Peninsula on the left and Italy on the right. The British Isles and Scandinavia can be seen in the far background and the northern part of Africa at the lower edge.

Closeup view of the Himalayas in Nepal with some of the highest peaks: In the foreground the Kanchenjunga (8586m) at the border between India and Nepal and the eastmost mountain above 8000m. Behind the Mount Everest (8844m). To the left the green regions of lower Nepal and northern India and to the right the high plains of Tibet.

Mount Fuji from the west with the Pacific Ocean in the background. The cities Yokohama and Tokyo can be seen on the far left. The Izu Islands in the background form the beginning of a range of volcanic island reaching south from Japan.

The Izu Islands sourth of Central Japan: in the foreground Hachijojima, behind Mikurajima and Miyakejima and then from left to right Kozushima, Shikinejima, Niijima, Toshima and Oshima. In the background the Japan coast with Mount Fuji.

The very mountainous nature of Japan leads to the towns being concentrated in the few flat valleys and coastal plains. Next to Mount Fuji in the foreground the lakes Kawaguchi, Yamanaka and Sai can be seen. In the background Mikawa Bay and Nagoya.

On the pacific coast of Japan's island Honshu the vulcano Mount Fuji, highest peak of Japan (3776m) and often used as a symbol for Japan can be found. At the coast in front of the mountain the city of Numazu and on the right the Izu Peninsula.

The Sierra Nevada is a small mountain range in Southern Spain with the highest peak of the Iberian peninsula (Mulhacén, 3482m). On the left the Costa del Sol and the Mediterranean Sea near Málaga and in the background the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea (right) to the Atlantic Ocean (left) separating Morocco (foreground right) from Spain (background left). On the mediterranean side the Rock of Gibraltar and the mountains near the Spanish exclave Ceuta form the Pillars of Hercules known from ancient mythology. In the background the Sierra Nevada mountains in southern Spain (3482m).

This view covers most of Greece including the western part of the Aegean Sea with all its islands. In the foreground Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands can be seen. On the right the Cyclades and on the left the Peloponnesus peninsula. Athen is right in the center of the image and behind in the far background the Mount Olympus, the highest mountain of Greece (2919m) and mythical home of the ancient Greek gods can be seen.

Greece is one of the mountainous countries in Europe with an irregular coast structured into many peninsulas and bays. This view shows Greece from the north with the Aegean Islands and Crete in the background.

The thin connection between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnesos, the Isthmus of Corinth can be seen in the center of this view. Behind the Gulf of Corinth. In the background the Ionian Islands and at the horizon the Italian coast can be seen.

At the southern coast of the Persian Gulf the United Arab Emirates can be found, the eastmost of which can be seen in this view. Behind the Oman exclave Musandam at the Strait of Hormuz and at the horizon the mountains of southern Iran can be seen.

The mountainous eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula forms countless islands and bays at the western side of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean and is an important ship route especially for oil transports. The tip of the Arabian Peninsula on the western side of the strait is an exclave of Oman. The eastern shore with the large island of Qeshm belongs to Iran.

Iceland is a large volcanic island located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Greenland and Northern Europe. Due to its northern location the island features some of the largest glaciers in europe, among them the Vatnajökull which can be seen on the left of this view.

The Vatnajökull is one of the largest glaciers in Europe covering a significant area in the southeast of Iceland. Suth of the glacier on the left of this view Icelands highest mountain, the Hvannadalshnúkur (2110m) can be seen.

The coast of Northern Iceland is structured into several large fjords, the Eyjafjörður in the center of this view being the largest. In the background the glaciers and ice caps of central and southern iceland can be seen.

Between the east coast of India and Sri Lanka on the left and the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Myanmar on the right lies the Bay of Bengal. At the north end the delta of the Brahmaputra River can be seen. In the far background the Himalaya mountain range.

The mountain range of the Himalaya arises behind the plains of the Ganges River in northern India and is the highest mountain range on Earth generated by the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with Asia. Behind the Tibetan Plateau can be seen and further in the background the Taklamakan desert.

Closeup view of the valley of the Indus River in northern Pakistan on its way between the Nanga Parbat on the right and the Karakoram Mountains at the horizon.

The Nanga Parbat (8125m) marks the western end of the main Himalaya Mountain ridge. Behind the mountain the Indus River has carved a valley through the mountains forming a height difference of about 7000m towards it.

The Deosai Plains southeast of the Nanga Parbat (8125m) which can be seen in the background is a high plateau in northern Pakistan with an average altitude of more than 4000m located between the upper Indus River in the north and the Kashmir Valley in the south.

At the west end of the Himalaya mountains marked by the Nanga Parbat (8125m) on the right of this view the Indus River finds its way between the mountains towards the Indian Ocean. Behind the snow covered peaks of the Karakoram and in the far background the Taklamakan desert.

The Italian peninsula south of the plains of the Po River is dominated by the Apennine Mountains. The highest peaks, from south to north the Maiella (2795m), Gran Sasso (2912m) and Monte Vettore (2476m) can be seen on the right. On the left in the foreground there is the Mount Vesuvius near Naples. The horizon of this view is formed by the Alps.

Japan consists of a group of islands off the coast of East Asia. The largest island, Honshu, can be seen in the foreground of this southward view.

Hokkaido is the northmost of the large Japanese islands and features a unique four-cornered shape. In the south it is separated from Honshu by the Tsugaru Strait and on the north it edges to the Kuril Islands in the background and Sakhalin on the left.

The Hadhramaut region in southern Yemen is famous for the production of Incense and has as such been of major economical importance in antique history.

These spectacular rock formations have been carved by a - now dry - river into the mountains of Southern Yemen where they edge to the Arabian desert.

View across the mountain ridges of southern Yemen in eastward direction.

Before it crosses the Sayan Mountains (foreground right) the Yenisei river flows through the mountain valleys near the border between Russia and Mongolia. Behind the Tannu-Ola Mountains lies the Uvs Nuur lake and the increasingly dry mountains and plains of Mongolia.

The Sayan Mountains are a mountain range in Southern Siberia near the border to Mongolia crossed by the upper Yenisei. The Sayano Shushenskaya reservoir in the middle of this view fills most of the canyon the Yenisei has carved into the mountains and is the largest hyropower plant in Russia.

The Jordan Valley forms the northmost branch of the east african rift system. It continues with the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth surface and the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea in the background.

The Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia in winter. At the southern end begins the chain of the Kuril Islands that reaches until Japan and separates the Sea of Okhotsk (right) from the Pacific Ocean.

The Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of Russia is famous for its many volcanoes. The Central Valley divides the mountains into two groups.

The Khunjerab Pass is a high mountain pass (4693m) than connects Pakistan (left) with China (right) as part of the Karakoram Highway that continues on the Chinese side in the valley on the center of this view west of the Kongur Shan mountains. In the region several of the highest mountain ranges of the earth meet: the Karakoram (foreground left), the Kunlun Mountains (foreground right), the Hindu Kush (background left) and the Pamir (far background). On the far right the westmost part of the Taklamakan Desert can be seen.

This view shows parts of the Karakorma mountain range from south with the Shigar River valley and the upper Indus in the foreground. Two large glaciers are visble on the southern slope of the mountain range: the Biafo Glacier on the right and the Chogo Lungma Glacier on the left. On the far right the Kongur Shan mountains are visible.

View of the western part of the Karakoram Mountains from the east with both the high concentration of peaks and large glaciers well visible. On the left in particular the meeting of the Biafo Glacier and Hispar Glacier with a combined length of about 100km.

The second highest mountain on earth, the K2 (8611m) is accompanied on the east by several other high peaks - the Broad Peak (8047m) and the Gasherbrum Range (further right). In the foreground the Baltoro Glacier (from right) and the Godwin-Austen Glacier (from back) meet forming 'Concordia' from where most photographs of the K2 are taken.

The Kashmir Valley is a broad mountain valley right south of the main ridge of the Himalayas (with the Nanga Parbat visible at the right side of this view). The Valley is the center of the Kashmir region divided and disputed between India, Pakistan and China.

The Kashmir Valley with the western parts of the Himalayas, the Karakoram, Ladakh and parts of western Tibet in the background.

This view shows the eastern part of the Karakoram Mountains north of the upper Indus river in the Kashmir region. The Siachen Glacier on the right of this view - despite its remote and high location - has been location of fights between Indian and Pakistan forces in the 1980s and 1990s.

View southward across the eastern part of the African Rift Valley. In the foreground there is the southern part of Lake Rudolf. Mount Kenya can be seen in the center and Mount Kilimanjaro in the far background. The Rift Valley continues on the right while you can see the Indian Ocean on the far left.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa (5895m) and famous for its unique silhouette visible in lots of movies and photographs of East Africa. Behind the various volcanoes of the Eastern Rift Valley can be seen.

The Serengeti savanna is a region at the border between Kenya and Tanzania famous for its animals. This is a view southward across the Ngorongoro Crater on the right and Lake Manyara on the left.

The Ngorongoro Crater in the foreground is part of the Serengeti savanna famous for its wildlife. It is located between Lake Natron in the north and Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara in the south. Behind Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen.

The Kimberley region in north Western Australia is a geologically very old and rugged plateau with gorges carved by the water. The region is dominated by extreme contrasts between the wet monsoon season and the dry time of the year with very high temperatures.

The region of Ladakh in the Indian part of Kashmir is a high mountain plateau around the course of the upper Indus river in the center of this view. The plateau, situated between the Himalayas and the Karakoram, contains various smaller mountain ranges as well as several lakes.

The Lambert Glacier is the largest glacier on earth draining a significant part of the East Antarctic ice sheet into the ocean. And although most of the Antarctic interior is very dry the discharge of the glacier is comparable to that of a major river.

This view shows the eastmost parts of the Mediterranean Sea with Syria and Turkey in the foreground, the Island of Cyprus on the right and the snow covered mountains of Lebanon and the Jordan Valley on the left. In the background the Red Sea (left) and the green Nile Delta (center) can be seen.

The island of Madagascar is the fourth largest island on Earth and due to its long time isolation from the African continent in the background home to many unique endemic plants and animals. Due to the trade winds the eastern coast is particularly green and humid while the central and western parts are drier.

Madeira is located in the North Atlantic Ocean a few hundred km north of the Canaries and belongs to Portugal. The island is quite mountainous with steep rocky coasts.

Marguerite Bay is a major bay west of the Antarctic Peninsula north of Alexander Island, the largest island of Antarctica which can be seen in the foreground of this view. The Antarctic Peninsula can be seen in the background with the Larsen Ice Shelf attaching to its eastern side.

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northmost part of the Antarctic continent and the most visited part with several research stations and frequent tourist cruises visiting during the southern summer. This view shows the peninsula from the southwest with various islands off the west coast and the Larsen Ice Shelf in the east.

The Matterhorn is one of the most often photographed peaks of the alps due to its unique pyramid-shaped silhouette. It can be found on the main ridge of the Pennine Alps at the border between Switzerland and Italy in the center of this view. Behind the Weisshorn on the west side of the Zermatt valley leading to the Valais.

The Richat Structure in the foreground is a fairly unusual circular structure of volcanic origin with a diameter of about 45km in the desert of Mauritania. In the far background the Atlantic Ocean.

The Adrar Plateau is one of the most articulated relief features in the otherwise flat desert of Mauritania. In the background the characteristic form of the Richat Structure can be seen.

Mexico City at the left of this image lies near several vulcanoes on the high plateau of southern Mexico, from left to right the Popocatépetl (5426m), the Iztaccíhuatl (5230m) and Matlalcueitl (4462m).

The Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico separates the dry high plateau of Central Mexico from the humid eastern coast plain. The city of Monterrey is located at the very right of this view.

View north across the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico near Monterrey with the eastern parts of the Mexican Plateau in the foreground.

This View shows the green Pacific coast of Mexico with the Colima Volcano (4330m) and Lake Chapala and in the background the dryer high plateau of central Mexico.

The Paricutín in the foreground (left) is an extremely young volcano in southern Mexico. It began to raise in 1943 and grew more then 400m since then. On the right various other small volcanoes can be seen, behind the Colima Volcano and in the background the Pacific Ocean.

The Mont Blanc (4808m) is the highest peak in the Alps and lies at the border between France and Italy. This view from the south shows the fairly steep and rugged south side of the massif facing the Aosta Valley on the right. On the left the Haute-Savoie in France and in the background the Rhône valley.

The Monte Rosa massif is a mountain group at the border between Switzerland and Italy containing the second highest mountain in the Alps, the Dufourspitze (4634m) that is also the highest point in Switzerland. This view from the south shows the Monte Rosa in the center and on the right the ridge reaching north until the Dom (4545m) marking the eastern end of the Pennine Alps.

The Western United States feature a very large bandwidth of land forms and colors. On the right at the Pacific coast the California Central Valley can be seen, west of it the Sierra Nevada. On the right the Colorado River, the Rocky Mountains and the Great Salt Lake. In the far background the snow covered mountains of Canada.

The Namib is believed to be the oldest Desert region of the Earth and is famous for its extreme temperture variations and high sand dunes. It occupies the coastal region of Namibia in southern Africa.

The meteorite crater in the foreground left lies near the Atlantic Ocean coast in the Namib desert in southern Namibia. Behind the first mountain ridges arise between the dunes of the desert.

The border between Namibia and South Africa is marked by the Orange River, the only large River at the west coast of Africa south of the Kongo. Behind the Namib desert and on the left the Atlantic Ocean.

The Fish River Canyon is the largest Canyon system in Africa and the second largest of the Earth. It is carved into the rocks of southern Namibia by the Fish River before it joins the Orange river at the border to South Africa.

The Brandberg is an intrusion in the Namib desert in western Namibia with a diameter of about 15km and with 2573m height the highest point in Namibia. Southwest of it the Messum Crater and behind the Erongo Mountains.

Raising several hundred meters from the plains of Northern Namibia the Waterberg Plateau is a widely visible landmark. In the background on the right the Brandberg mountain can be seen and behind the Atlantic Ocean.

The central part of Namibia between The Namib desert at the coast and the Kalahari desert in the east is dominated by large mountain plateaus. The Hardap Reservoir in the foreground is the largest lake in the otherwise very dry Namibia.

New Guinea is the second largest island on earth and lies north of Australia. The western part (in the foreground) belongs to Indonesia, the eastern part to Papua New Guinea. On the right the Torres Strait separates the island from Australia, in the background the island of New Britain can be seen.

The Maoke Mountain range is the highest mountain range of New Guinea dividing the island from east to west. Its highest peak, the Puncak Jaya (4884m) lies in the middle of this view and is one of the few glaciered peaks in equatorial regions on earth.

The South Island of New Zealand with the mountain range of the Southern Alps in the foreground and the North Island with several vulcanoes in the background.

Mount Damavand is the highest Peak (5604m) of the Alborz Mountains in northern Iran. This view shows the mountain from the east.

The Takht-e Soleyman Massif is the highest part of the Alborz Mountains in northern Iran apart from Mount Damavand which can be seen in the background. It contains various peaks above 4000m, the highest being the Alam Kuh (4850m).

The Takht-e Soleyman Massif is a subsection of the Alborz Mountains in northern Iran that separates the dry central Iranian plateau from the humid and green costal region at the Caspian Sea.

In the northern part of Iran north of the city of Teheran in the center of this view separate the dry central Iranian plateau from the humid and green costal region at the Caspian Sea which can be seen in the background.

The Matochkin Strait is a narrow strait resembling a narrow Fjord that divides Novaya Zemlya into two separate islands. These islands are located in Northern Russia froming a continuation of the Ural mountains into the Arctic Ocean.

The northern part of Novaya Zemlya is largely covered by an ice cap leaving only a narrow stripe at the coast free of ice. The island has been a major nuclear test site during the Cold War for the Soviet Union.

This view shows the mountains of northern Novaya Zemlya, an island in the far north of European Russia that is to a significant part covered by large glaciers. Similar to Greenland some of these glaciers drain directly into the sea, especially in the northern part of the island.

As part of the Ural mountain range the island of Novaya Zemlya in northern Russia is mountainous with heights up to more than 1500m. The higher parts in the north in the background of this view are covered with up to 400m of ice.

The mountainous northern part of Oman with the Jebel Akhdar mountain range lies at the eastern edge of the Rub' al Khali desert. In the background at the eastmost end near Ras al Hadd the Gulf of Oman (left) meets the Arabian Sea (right).

The Jabal Akhdar Mountains in northern Oman reach up to about 3000m and are the highest part in the otherwise relatively flat eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. In the far background the Persian Gulf can be seen.

This View shows the Eastern end of the Pyrenees with northern Spain in the background.

The mountain range of the Pyrenees separates the Iberian Peninsula from France. The highest Peak - the Aneto (3404m) can be seen in the center left. In the background the coast of southern France, the southwestern end of the Alps and in the far background the island of Corsica can be seen.

In the southern part the Andes Mountains form the border between Chile on the left and Argentina on the right. The coastal plains of Southern Chile end with the Chacao Channel on the far left with the Zona Austral further south consisting of islands and fjords.

This view of the Southern Andes Mountains form the north shows how the mountains separate the humid coastal plains of southern Chile from the drier highlands of Argentinia. In the foreground the lowest parts of the Southern Andes can be seen with few volcanic peaks above 3000m.

The Scandinavian Peninsula in northern europe has been covered by a thick ice sheet during the last Ice Age and its surface is primarily formed by the glaciers. The western coast is structured by many fjords.and islands while the eastern coast slowly inclines towards the Baltic Sea. In the close foreground the North Cape and the northmost point of the European mainland can be seen.

The island of South Georgia lies in the southern Atlantic Ocean. More than half of it is covered by glaciers. The highest peak, Mount Paget (2935m) in the Allardyce Range in the center of the island can be seen in the middle of this view.

The Strait of Messina separates Sicily from the Italian Mainland. On the island near the strait lies Mount Etna, Europe's tallest volcano (3323m). In the background the coast of northern Greece is visible.

The Sinai Peninsula can be found at the northern end of the red sea between the Gulf of Suez (left) and the Gulf of Aqaba (right) - the latter pointing towards the Dead Sea depression further north. The Sinai is of major importance in Jewish and Christian mythology.

The Gulf of Aqaba is the eastern branch of the Red Sea at the northern end and is part of the East African rift system up to the Dead Sea further north. This view from the north shows the Wadi Araba connecting the Dead Sea with the Gulf. East of the Wadi the ancient Nabataean city of Petra can be found.

The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea (foreground left) with the Gulf of Suez and thereby the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and this way shortens the sea passage from Europe to the Middle and Far East. The northern end of the canal is in the green Nile Delta but it then crosses directly through the desert with the Great Bitter Lake bein part of the canal. In the background the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea.

The Sinai Peninsula seen from the east with the Nile Delta in the background and the Hijaz region in Saudi Arabia in the foreground.

At the southern end of the Indian Peninsula the mountains of the Western Ghats separate the dry east coast of the peninsula from the humid Malabar Coast on the west side. The Anai Mudi (2695m) in the Cardamom Hills, the highest peak in southern India can be seen in the foreground. The humid west coast and mountain parts are famous for the spices grown there.

The southmost point of the Indian Peninsula marks the end of the Western Ghats mountain range that continues north parallel to the west coast on the left of this view. The historic town Calicut that has been a trade center for spices and other products of India and East Asia since medieval times is located in the far background.

The Sognefjord is the longest Fjord of Norway with a length of more thn 200km. North of the Fjord in the foreground right the highest mountains of Norway can be found in the Jotunheimen Range

The glaciers of the last ice age have created a unique landscape of Mountains, Lakes and Fjords in Norway the southern part of which can be seen in this view.

The south western end of Europe is marked by the Cape of St.Vincent in southern Portugal. The Algarve coast east of the cape is popular among tourists especially in the summer.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a small mountain range in northern Colombia, including with a height of 5775m the highest mountain peaks in the country. It lies very close to the coast and is completely isolated from the other mountain ranges in the region.

The island of Taiwan or Formosa is a large mountainous island off the coast of mainland China with mountains of nearly 4000m altitude. Due to the mountainous nature the towns and industries are concentrated in the coastal areas, especially in the west.

This view shows the northern part of the island of Taiwan with the coast of Mainland China in the background. The eastern coastal mountain range in the foreground is separated from the central mountain ridge by a broad valley as can be seen in the foreground.

The Tassili n'Ajjer is a plateau-like mountain range in the Sahara Desert in eastern Algeria. Famous for its prehistoric rock paintings and its unique isolated vegetation it has been protected by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Closeup view of the southern edge of the The Tassili n'Ajjer mountains in eastern Algeria. The edge of the sandstone plateau features lots of impressive rock formations raising above the sand of the Sahara.

Behind the Tadrart Acacus mountains in southwestern Libya in the center of this view lies the city of Ghat and in the background in Algeria the Tassili n'Ajjer mountains. In the close foreground the western edge of the Idhān Murzuq can be seen.

The High Tatras form the northmost part of the Carpathian Mountains. It is a very small yet high mountain range at the border between Poland and Slovakia with the highest peaks above 2500m.

The Tatra Mountains in Poland and Slovakia consists of the High Tatras in the background with peaks above 2500m high and the Low Tatras in the foreground with heights just above 2000m.

The Hohe Tauern is the highest part of the Eastern Alps and contains the Großglockner (3798m), the highest peak in Austria. This view from the east shows in the foreground the Glockner Group and the Granatspitz Group and behind, separated by the Felber Tauern pass the Venediger Group.

This view shows the Tibesti Mountains from the west. The volcanic mountain range contains several large craters. The westmost peak with the dark lava flows around the top is the Tarso Toussidé (3265m).

The Tibesti mountain range in the central Sahara at the border between Chad and Libya. The group of volcanoes is one of the most remote regions in Africa. The highest peak, the Emi Koussi (3415m) can be seen in the foreground left.

The west coast of Turkey, seen from the Aegean Sea. The Islands in the Mediterranean Sea from left to right are Imbros, Tenedos, Lesbos and Chios. On the left the Dardanelles connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Near the Dardanelles is the site of the ancient city of Troy known from Greek mythology.

Victoria Land is the part of the Eastern Antarctic edging to the Ross Sea in the foreground. The far tip of the peninsula in the right is Cape Adare which has been an important base for early Antarctic exploration. Between the mountains of Victoria Land there are several large glaciers draining directly into the Ross Sea.

This view southward shows the Ross Sea on the left and Victoria Land on the right in the East Antarctic. In the far background McMurdo Sound can be seen, on the far left behind the Ross Ice Shelf and further right the beginning of the Transantarctic Mountains.

This view shows McMurdo Sound and Ross Island at the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf on the right next to McMurdo Dry Valleys on the left which are some of very few sites in Antarctica not covered by snow and ice due to the extremely dry climate. In the background the mountains of Victoria Land can be seen edging to the Ross Sea on the right.

This view southward from McMurdo Sound and Ross Island shows the Ross Ice Shelf on the left separated from the East Antarctic plateau by the Transantarctic Mountains, the largest mountain range in Antarctica. The dark areas in the foreground right are the McMurdo Dry Valleys which are ice free due to the extremely low precipitation.

The Wakhan Corridor is a small strip of land belonging to Afghanistan that connects it with China separating Pakistan and Tajikistan, On the left the valley of the Pjandsch river marks the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, on the right the crest of the mountains the border to Pakistan. At the horizon the Muztagh Ata and Kongur Shan peaks in the Kunlun Mountains can be seen.

The Cascade Mountain range at the northern part of the US-American west coast contains several prominent mountains. On this view from bottom to top: Mount Jefferson (3199m), Mount Hood (3429m), Mount Adams (right, 3743 m), Mount St. Helens (left, 2550m) and Mount Rainier (4392m). Between them the Columbia River and in the background Puget Sound and southern Canada with Vancouver Island.

Mount St. Helens in the Cascade Range in the northwestern United States looked much like Mount Rainier (left) and Mount Adams (right) before 1980 when a large vulcanic eruption completely destroyed the mountain top. There has been occasional vulcanic activity on the mountain since then especially in the last two years.

The Caucasus Mountains are a mountain range between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea at the southeastern edge of Europe. On the left in the background the Crimea and the Sea of Azov can be seen. In the foreground eastern Turkey with Mount Ararat. On the right the Caspian Sea, southern Russia and the Volga River.

The southern end of South America consists of the mountains in the east, covered with snow and ice and the plains of Patagonia in the south of Argentina. The Strait of Magellan separates the Tierra del Fuego from the mainland. On the right are the Falkland Islands.

The Yellowstone National Park in the Northwestern United States, primarily in Wyoming, is the oldest of the US National Parks and covers the region of a large volcanic caldera. It features a large variety of wildlife and volcanic phenomena like hot springs and geysers.

The Teton Range is an up to 4197m high mountain range in Wyoming, USA south of the Yellowstone National Park. East of the range various lakes can be found, the largest the Jackson Lake at the right edge of this view. In the background the mountains of the Yellowstone Caldera

The Zagros Mountains are a mountain range covering covering large parts of sourthern Iran. This view shows the southern parts of the Mountains with the City of Shiraz in the center background of the view and the Persian Gulf on the right.

The Zard-Kuh is the highest peak of the Zagros Mountains in Iran with an altitude of 4200m. This view shows the mountain on the foreground left with the southern Zagros Mountains in the background.

This view of the Zagros Mountains shows the salt lakes in the east of the Fars Province in Iran. The central parts of the Mountains with the highest peaks can be seen on the right background while the Persian Gulf is visible on the left.

Looking from the southmost parts of the Zagros Mountains towards the northwest this view shows the broad band of the mountains extending several hundred kilometers from the Persian Gulf. The City of Shiraz and the ancient ruins of Persepolis are located on the right next to the Maharloo Salt Lake.

Closeup view of the zigzag gorges of the Zambezi River at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa.

The Zambezi is the largest river in Southern Africa and famous for the Victoria Falls which are located about in the center of this view. Below the falls the river flows though a number of narrow gorges until it reaches Lake Kariba, one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world.

The Zion National Park in southwestern Utah covers the Zion Canyon in the center right of this view and the surrounding parts of the Markagunt Plateau. The park is known for its impressive canyons with steep rock walls and its wildlife. Behind the red stone walls of the Cedar Breaks National Monument can be found.

In this closeup view of the entry to the Zion Canyon from southwest the different layers of sedimentary rock that structure the side walls of the canyons are well visible.