14 Stunning Photos of the Arab World from Space
By: Dani Meyer/Arab America Contributing Writer
You may have seen all the lists of beautiful and extraordinary pictures of the Arab world – but have you ever seen the Arab world from space? Check out these 14 photographs to get a taste of what it’s like to see the Arab world from thousands of miles away. All images were taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
1. Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited above southeastern Syria. At right, is the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. This picture was taken on August 11, 2020.
2. Baghdad, Iraq
The International Space Station was orbiting 260 miles above northeastern Syria at the time this photograph of Baghdad, Iraq was taken.
3. Libya and Tunisia
The Mediterranean coasts of Tunisia and Libya and the Italian island of Sicily across the sea are pictured as the International Space Station orbited 260 miles above North Africa.
4. The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea was pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 263 miles above the Middle East.
5. Doha, Qatar
Doha, the capital city of Qatar, is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited above the Arabian peninsula.
6. Errachidia Province, Morocco
The Errachidia Province of Morocco is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited above the North African nation. Errachidia is located in eastern central Morocco and is bordered to the southeast by Algeria.
7. Faiyum Oasis, Egypt
Looking like a leaf on a vine, the Faiyum Oasis extends west of the Nile River and south of Cairo, Egypt. The fertile area at the left of the photograph is the Nile Delta opening up into the Mediterranean Sea.
8. Idriss Dam, Morocco
The Idriss I Dam in Morocco is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited off the Atlantic coast of the North African nation.
9. Lake Nasser, Egypt
Lake Nasser, a vast reservoir in southern Egypt and northern Sudan, is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited above northeast Africa. This picture was taken on June 16, 2020.
10. The Nile River
The International Space Station was flying 255 miles above the border between Sudan and Egypt near 1 a.m. local time when an Expedition 60 crewmember photographed this oblique view of the Nile River and its delta.
11. The Northern tip of Oman
The northern tip of the Middle Eastern nation of Oman is pictured on the Strait of Hormuz. The International Space Station was orbiting above the Persian Gulf when this photograph was taken.
12. Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
The well-lit Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia is pictured from the International Space Station during an orbital night pass.
13. Yemen
Storm clouds are seen on the southwestern coast of Yemen as the International Space Station was about to fly 254 miles over the Bab al-Mandab Strait in between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
14. Al Jawf Oasis, Libya
The Al-Jawf Oasis in Eastern Libya is photographed by crew members aboard the International Space Station. The large circles are center-pivot irrigation systems. Photographs from the station record how the planet is changing over time, from human-caused changes like urban growth and reservoir construction, to natural dynamic events such as hurricanes, floods and volcanic eruptions.
There are all different kinds of ways to take photographs, and these astronauts have proven that photographs from space are just as beautiful as photos taken from here on Earth!
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