PIX4658455: Saudi Arabia's coral reefs - Al Wadj Bank, Saudi Arabia - Approximately 260 coral species have been recorded in Al Wadj Bank coral reefs in Saudi Arabia. Image obtained from the International Space Station (ISS) in December 2007. Saudi Arabia boasts the most coral reefs of any Middle Eastern country, as it includes coastline along both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Arabia. This high - resolution astronaut photograph shows part of the Al Wadj Bank, located along the northern Red Sea coast. Despite the relatively high salinity of Red Sea water, approximately 260 species of coral have been documented in the region. Large tracts of the Saudi Arabian coastline are undeveloped, and reefs in these areas are in generally good ecological health. However, reefs located near large urban centers such as Jeddeh have suffered degradation due to land reclamation (dredging and filling), pollution, and increased sediment runoff from land. The Al Wadj Bank (a bank is an underwater hill) includes a healthy and diverse reef system, extensive seagrasses beds, and perhaps the largest population of dugong - - a marine mammal similar to the North American manatee - - in the eastern Red Sea. The portion of the Bank in this image illustrates the complex form and topography of the reef system. Several emergent islands (tan) are visible, surrounded primarily by dark green seagrasset; the largest is at top left. Only the islands are above the waterline; over the reefs, the water color ranges from light teal (shallow) to turquoise (increasing depth). The southern edge of the reef is well defined by the deep, dark blue water of the Red Sea (top). Image taken from the international space station (ISS) in december 2007 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4658479: Jwaneng Diamond Mine - Botswana - Jwaneng diamond mine - Botswana: The Jwaneng Mine is an open pit diamond mine located in Botswana. Production began in 1982 and is described as the largest diamond mine in the world. Image taken from the International Space Station (ISS) on 30 June 2003. The Jwaneng diamond mine is the richest diamond mine in the world and is located in south-central Botswana. Astronaut photograph was acquired on June 30, 2003 from the International Space Station (ISS) / Bridgeman Images
PIX4658481: Najd Plateau - Saudi Arabia - Najd plateau - Saudi Arabia - Image obtained by Envisat satellite centree on the Najd region of Saudi Arabia. The circular shapes visible at the top and left center of the image are irrigated fields. This Envisat image is centred over the plateau region of Najd located in Saudi Arabia, bounded on the west by the Al Hijaz mountains and on all other sides by desert sands. A curious feature about this image are the irrigated fields shown as grey and black circular patterns at the top and centre left of the image. Image taken on July 13 2003 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4658777: Egypt Night View - Egypt at Night - Egypt at Night View from the International Space Station (ISS) on October 28, 2010. From 220 miles above Earth, one of the Expedition 25 crew members on the International Space Station took this night time photo featuring the bright lights of Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt on the Mediterranean coast. The Nile River and its delta stand out clearly as well. On the horizon, the airglow of the atmosphere is seen across the Mediterranean. The Sinai Peninsula, at right, is outlined with lights highlighting the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba / Bridgeman Images
PIX4667174: Europe at night - 2012 - Europe by night - 2012 - View of Europe at night consisting of images taken by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012. This image of Europe at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4667201: Europe at night - 2012 - Europe by night - 2012 - View of Europe at night consisting of images taken by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012. This image of Europe at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4667509: Antennas of a French ground station Bercenay - en - Othe - Antennas of a French ground station - Bercenay - en - Othe has been home to a teleport (space telecommunications centre) since 1978, with 18 antennas ranging from 1.5 m to 32.5 m (BY4 antenna). The main network covered is: Intelsat, Eutelsat, Arabsat, NSS, Telecom 2. Ground station for telecommunication with artificial satellites. Bercenay - en - Othe, Aube, France / Bridgeman Images
PIX4667573: The Devil's Cave - Huelgoat - Finistere - Huelgoat, Brittany - The Devil's Cave is a close cavity located between the huge granite rocks of Huelgoat's rocky chaos. The Full Moon lights the landscape as in broad daylight. January 30, 2010. Entrance of “” La cave du diable”” (Devil's cave) among the chaos of rocks in Huelgoat, Brittany, France. The landscape is lightened by the full Moon. January 30, 2010 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4667622: Cirque de Moureze - Herault - Cirque de Moureze - Herault - France - Dolomitic circus or erosion has shaped a ruiniform landscape with extraordinary shapes. This dolomitic landscape near Clermont - l'Herault, shows the process of water erosion on the rock, creating ruiniform reliefs / Bridgeman Images
PIX4667850: Chateau de Villandry - Les Jardins: Chateau de Villandry is a castle of the Loire of Renaissance architecture, situated 15 km from Tours. The Chateau de Villandry is located in Villandry, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, France. It is especially known for its beautiful gardens / Bridgeman Images