The city and harbor of Den Helder in the northern Netherlands has been the home port of the Dutch Royal Navy for over 175 years. The location provides access to the North Sea, which has made it an important commercial and strategic port. Bright red agricultural fields to the south of Den Helder indicate another noteworthy aspect of the region—commercial farming of tulips and hyacinth.
Published Jun 4, 2007
This “Gateway to Mecca” stands along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.
Published Nov 27, 2017
The distinctive red brick roof tiles of buildings in Ankara, Turkey, are the most striking feature in this astronaut photo from April 11, 2009.
Published May 11, 2009
The Port of Rotterdam, also known as Europoort (Eurogate), has been an important trading center since approximately AD 1250. The history of the port reflects the evolution of the world’s economic base. Originally serving the North Sea herring fleets, it rapidly grew into a major mercantile port during the Dutch colonial period. The 19th century witnessed the Industrial Revolution, and steel and coal became major commodities passing through the port. Following the development of petroleum as a primary energy resource in the early 20th century, the port expanded westward to accommodate storage facilities and large oil tankers.
Published Jun 20, 2005
The second largest container port in France is also a World Heritage Site for its unique concrete buildings.
Published Nov 18, 2013
Located on the broad alluvial fan of the Rimac River, Lima is the capital of Peru and the only megacity (7.7 million inhabitants in 2002) located on the western coastline of South America.
Published Apr 18, 2005
Taken on July 31, 2010, this astronaut photograph shows an industrialized area of Turkey at the eastern edge of the Sea of Marmara.
Published Aug 23, 2010
In this astronaut photograph, winter snows outline the street grid of the Fort William part of Thunder Bay, while suburban parks appear as roughly rectangular areas of unbroken white snow.
Published Jan 26, 2009
The ancient city has been a bustling trade center for more than 2,000 years.
Published Jul 8, 2018
The urban landscape of Sevastopol, on the Ukrainian coast of the Black Sea, is featured in this astronaut photo from August 5, 2009.
Published Aug 24, 2009
The city-state of Carthage in North Africa was founded by Phoenician settlers in 814 BC, and it subsequently became the seat of a trade empire that controlled much of the western Mediterranean region (including most of the former Phoenician lands). Carthage was completely destroyed by the Roman Republic during the Third (and final) Punic War (149-146 BC). The end of Carthage has been made notorious by the story that the Romans allegedly sowed the city with salt to ensure that no further rivals to their power would arise there. However, given the great value of salt at the time and the strategic importance of the city’s location, scholars dispute whether the event actually occurred. Following the destruction of Carthage, Roman dominance of the Mediterranean continued until the fall of the Western Empire in 476 AD.
Published Jun 26, 2006
It is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, with evidence of human habitation extending back to 8,000–10,000 BC.
Published Jul 15, 2013
