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.
Aden lies near the south end of the Red Sea, at a critical point where major sea lanes converge—between Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf and India, and the long shoreline of East Africa.
Astronauts are taught to concentrate on the shapes of coastlines for a visual cue about where they are when circling the planet. The nose of Cape Karmel and the bay that protects Haifa are shapes that stand out.
Sitting inside barrier islands of the eastern and southern United States—and cutting through them in points—the waterway provides a safer passage for shipping commerce.
Acquired January 8, 2010, this true-color image shows part of Karachi, Pakistan, a city of over 12 million residents. Heavily urbanized areas mix with rivers and mangroves, especially near the Port of Karachi.
Acquired January 21, 2010, this false-color image shows Port-au-Prince nine days after a severe earthquake, as relief ships sail into the newly restored port.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, Alexandria became a center of trade and learning in the ancient world. he Eastern Harbor was the main port in the Middle Ages. This detailed image taken by Space Station crew members using an 800-mm lens provides a view of the modern port facilities in the Western Harbor, where wharves and many moored ships can be detected.
Acquired March 5, 2010, this true-color image shows ice filling part of the Gulf of Bothnia. Ice lines much of the coast, including the area around Sundsvall.