The amazing photos of life on Earth taken from space by Nasa and European Space Agency satellites

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated:


These amazing images captured by Nasa and European Space Agency satellites show the remarkable natural features of Earth and the impact of human development.

The pictures, taken in the last month, show some of the most populous areas of the world and others that are completely uninhabited.

An aerial shot of China shows the dramatic size of the two biggest cities Beijing and Tianjin which are lit up at night.

Another photo shows a large giant 4.5km gecko-shaped man-made reservoir that was built in Siberia in the 1960s.

And in another image taken from the International Space Station, the old and new areas of Doha, Qatar can be seen from space. With the third largest gas reserves on the planet, gross domestic product is one of the highest in the world.

Bratsk reservoir in south-east Siberia

Impressive: The man-made Bratsk reservoir in south-east Siberia. It was formed in the 1960s with a huge dam across the Angara River to provide hydroelectric power. At its widest point it is 4,417 metres across. To the top left of the water is the comparatively small city of Bratsk

China lit up

At night: Image shows the two huge cities of Beijing and Tianjun in China lit up. They have a combined population of approximately 19 million people. The areas which are not lit up are largely agricultural. Beijing is to the upper left, while the smaller city of Tianjin to the right - with an estimated seven million population - is a major trade centre

Doha, the capital city of Qatar

Gas rich: Doha, the capital of Qatar has old and new zones which can be seen from space. Qatar - with a 1.7million population that is tiny compared to China - has huge gas reserves and has a high GDP per capita.  In the old city there is an ancient bazaar close to the harbour - while a new port has been built to the left

Earth

Natural phenomenon: A jet stream from Hawaii across to California, U.S., carries a constant flow of moisture. It has been dubbed 'the Pineapple Express'

North-east Italy

Huge rivers: The north-east of Italy is deluged with as much as 3,000milimetres of rain each year - and here the Cellina, Meduna and Tagliamento rivers can be seen from space. Mud is eroded into rivers and there are frequent downslides

Uninhabited

Uninhabited: Unlike populous China, this volcanic island is uninhabited by humans and land animals. The Island of the Seven Mountains is used by birds for nesting. The remote island is almost 1,300 miles south-west of Anchorage, Alaska

The Maldives

The Maldives: The islands, which on average are just one metre above sea level, consist of 1,192 coral islands. The total population is just 330,000 and the spectacular appearance from above has been likened to a necklace of speckled jade beads

Rural West Virginia

Hole punch clouds: This picture taken of Rural West Virgina shows cloud cover to the top left. Holes are formed when aeroplanes pass through them, causing the air to expand. When it cools down, water droplets freeze. Eventually an ice cloud like this one is created.

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