The idea that you can see certain landmarks from space has often captivated the imagination. While it's a myth that the Great Wall of China is visible from the moon, there are indeed several notable places and features on Earth that can be clearly observed from orbit. Here are seven of them.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia: The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system and is visible from space due to its massive size and distinct coloration. Stretching over 2,300 kilometers along the northeast coast of Australia, it is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands.
The Amazon River, South America: The Amazon River is one of the largest rivers in the world by discharge volume of water. Its vast, meandering path through the South American rainforest is visible from space, especially during flood season when the river widens.
The Himalayas: This mountain range in Asia, which includes Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, is clearly visible from space. The dramatic contrast between the towering peaks and the surrounding terrain makes them distinctly noticeable.
Palm Islands, Dubai, UAE: The Palm Islands are three artificial islands on the coast of Dubai, UAE. The largest, Palm Jumeirah, appears from space as a stylized palm tree within a circle and is an iconic example of human engineering.
The Bahamas: The shallow waters of the Great Bahamas Bank and the distinct bright blue and green waters of this archipelago are very striking when viewed from orbit. The vivid marine colors make the islands and surrounding waters stand out against the deeper blue of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Greenhouses of Almería, Spain: This vast sea of plastic greenhouses covers approximately 26,000 hectares in the province of Almería in southern Spain. Known as "the sea of plastic," its high reflectivity makes it one of the few man-made structures easily visible from space.
Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah, USA: Also known as the Kennecott Copper Mine, this is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world. The significant excavation, visible as a massive scar on the Earth's surface, is easily spotted from space due to its vast size and depth.