33 Satellite Pictures Of Earth And Its Landmarks That Are Breathtakingly Surreal

The planet is beautiful in its natural bounty but man’s greed seems to be stripping Earth of its natural quality. Humans are increasingly becoming a bane to the planet, and themselves. Everything looks grave when you know how much damage all of us have done. But what does it look like from up there? Is there anything good left?

Photographer Benjamin Grant has set off on a mission to change the way we see our planet with his stunning photo project – Daily Overview.

“I try to present the images with no bias and let people decide what these altered landscapes mean, based on the facts and the visual evidence in the frame. I believe that this perspective is a means to start a conversation about the condition of our planet and how we can better protect it.”

Take a look!

1. Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands

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Port of Rotterdam (12/21)

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jan 7, 2014 at 8:05am PST

2. Bingham Canyon Mine in Salt Lake City, USA

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A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jan 11, 2014 at 9:43am PST

3. Bay salt evaporation ponds, San Francisco, USA

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Another look at the San Francisco Bay salt evaporation ponds, operated by Cargill, Inc. (1/17/2013)

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jan 16, 2014 at 7:09pm PST

4. Port of Antwerp, Belgium

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A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jan 28, 2014 at 9:31am PST

5. Dragør, Denmark

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A freshly mowed lawn by the marina in Dragør, Denmark

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Feb 6, 2014 at 10:35am PST

6. Huelva, Spain

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Vineyards swirl on the hills of Huelva, Spain. The climate there is ideal for grape growing with an average temperature of 64 degrees and a relative humidity between 60% and 80%.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Mar 15, 2014 at 7:17am PDT

7. El Dorado National Forest – Georgetown, California, USA

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20 acre clearcutting tracts in the El Dorado National Forest – Georgetown, California, USA.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jun 11, 2014 at 10:53am PDT

8. Jacksonville, Florida, USA

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A turbine interchange connects the SR 9A and SR 202 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Also known as a whirlpool interchange, this structure consists of left-turning ramps sweeping around a center interchange, thereby creating a spiral pattern of right-hand traffic. This type of junction is rarely built, due to the vast amount land that is required to construct the sweeping roads.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Sep 22, 2014 at 7:17am PDT

9. Marabe Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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The villas of Marabe Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates are home to approximately 2,000 people.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Feb 21, 2015 at 8:26am PST

10. Durrat Al Bahrain

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Durrat Al Bahrain will consist of 15 connected, artificial islands (including six atolls, five fish-shaped, and two crescent-shaped). Construction costs are estimated at $6 billion and the project is slated for completion in mid-2015. Also, Friday's print contest winner is: @kellypastorek. We'll message you shortly!

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Mar 15, 2015 at 2:43pm PDT

11. Sepang Goldcoast Resort, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

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We’re feeling very tropical with this Overview of the Sepang Goldcoast Resort in Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. The hotel features over-water bungalows that extend out in a palm-shaped formation into the calm waters of the Malacca Straits.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jul 10, 2015 at 9:56am PDT

12. Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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To celebrate our 115K milestone, we’re doing a PRINT GIVEAWAY from our Printshop! To enter the contest, simply TAG FOUR (4) FRIENDS in the comments of this Overview. In 72 hours, we’ll announce a winner who will receive a 12” print of this view of Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Contest Winner: @bessayeager !!!

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Sep 15, 2015 at 7:11am PDT

13. Frankfurt Airport, Germany

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Frankfurt Airport is the busiest airport in Germany, averaging 1,365 flights per day and 65 million passengers per year. With more than 70,000 employees, the airport is also the single largest workplace in the country.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 15, 2015 at 6:09am PDT

14. The Rio Madre De Dios, South America

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The Rio Madre De Dios swirls in the rainforests of Peru. Oxbow lakes – the U-shaped branches coming off the main river – form when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off, creating a free standing body of water.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Dec 24, 2015 at 10:44am PST

15. Namib Desert, Namibia

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Our new book “Overview” contains 70 images that have never been posted on our feed before! Here’s one that captures the natural beauty of Sossusvlei — a salt and clay pan located on the edge of the Namib Desert in Namibia. These reddish sand dunes of the desert, seen in the top half of this Overview, are among the tallest in the world, with many rising more than 656 feet (200 meters). If you haven’t ordered a book yet, you can learn more by clicking on the link in our profile! /// Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 29, 2016 at 9:10am PDT

16. Seville, Spain

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For everyone who pre-ordered a copy of “Overview” here is what you’ll be seeing on the back cover tomorrow! This solar concentrator in Seville, Spain use 2,650 heliostat mirrors to collect and focus the sun’s thermal energy to heat molten salt flowing through a 460-foot tall central tower. The molten salt then circulates from the tower to a storage tank where it is used to produce steam and generate electricity. In total, the facility displaces approximately 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year. So excited for everyone to receive their books tomorrow! /// Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 24, 2016 at 10:08am PDT

17. The Sydney Opera House, Australia

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The Sydney Opera House hosts more than 1,500 shows each year in its various performance halls, drawing a total attendance of approximately 1.2 million people. While the buildings famous “shell” design appears uniformly white from a distance, it actually features a subtle chevron pattern composed of tiles in two colors: glossy white and matte cream. /// Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery: @nearmap

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 20, 2016 at 5:09am PDT

18. Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, California

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Here’s one of my favorite images from the Where We Waste chapter of “Overview”. The Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California contains an aircraft boneyard with more than 150 retired planes. Because the demand for jumbo jets has dropped significantly in the last two decades in favor of smaller, more affordable twin‑engine planes, many large aircrafts such as Boeing 747s have been retired. The dry conditions in Victorville – located on the edge of the Mojave Desert – limits the corrosion of metal, meaning planes can be stored here for years while they are stripped for spare parts. /// Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 19, 2016 at 8:54am PDT

19. Mona Vale Beach, Sydney, Australia

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Check out this incredible shot of the ocean pool at Mona Vale Beach, located in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia. There are a number of public ocean pools in New South Wales, offering stunning areas to swim, situated on the rocky coast, with waves splashing into the pool. Captured from drone by @gabscanu

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 13, 2016 at 9:16am PDT

20. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

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Here’s one more pick from the WIRED review and gallery with images from our new book! This one captures Angkor Wat — a massive temple complex surrounded by a moat in Cambodia. If you haven’t seen the full feature yet, we have the link up now in our profile! /// Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 12, 2016 at 4:46am PDT

21. Niagara Falls, USA-Canada border

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Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the border between Ontario, Canada and the United States. Horseshoe Falls is seen here. The falls have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, with a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). The Maid of the Mist, also visible here, is a boat that has carried passengers into the rapids below the falls since 1846. /// Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery: @nearmap

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Oct 3, 2016 at 10:00am PDT

22. DuSable Harbor in Chicago, Illinois, USA

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Sailboats are docked at DuSable Harbor in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The facility is located on Lake Michigan in the heart of the city’s downtown area and contains 420 slips for boats between 30 to 60 feet in length. /// Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery: @nearmap

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Sep 28, 2016 at 10:46am PDT

23. Skafta River, Iceland

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Glacial melting and flooding occurs every year by the Skafta River in Iceland. As the water travels down towards the North Atlantic Ocean, incredible patterns are created on the hillsides. Rising lava, steam vents, or newly opened hot springs can all cause this rapid ice melt, leading to a sizable release of water that picks up sediment as it flows down from the glaciers. /// Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Sep 8, 2016 at 10:57am PDT

24. Hạlong Bay Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam

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Hạlong Bay, located in the Quảng Ninh Province of Vietnam, is a stunningly beautiful destination. Here, towering limestone pillars and tiny islands topped by a rich, green forest rise from the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Halong translates as 'where the dragon descends into the sea' and local legend suggests that this seascape was created when a great mountain dragon charged towards the coast, its flailing tail gouging out the valleys and crevasses in its path. /// Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Sep 2, 2016 at 5:56am PDT

25. Lombard Street, San Francisco, California, USA

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Lombard Street runs from east to west in San Francisco, California, USA. With eight hairpin turns dispersed over a one-block section in the Russian Hill neighborhood, Lombard is often referred to as "the most crooked street in the world.” 📷 by @dirka

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Aug 30, 2016 at 6:34am PDT

26. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, USA

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The largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world is located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The boneyard — run by the 309th Airspace Maintenance and Regeneration Group — contains more than 4,400 retired American military and government aircraft. This incredible image was captured via airplane and is courtesy of our friends @nearmap

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Aug 19, 2016 at 10:57am PDT

27. The Bahamas

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Stunning blue waters surround and pass through the tidal channels of islands in the Bahamas. Small tidal changes on the banks cause water to flow through the narrow channels between the islands, first in one direction and then the other. The darker blue sections of water are the deepest parts of the channels and the surrounding light blue color is more shallow (less than 25 meters / 80 feet). This photo was captured from the International Space Station and is courtesy of @nasa.

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jul 18, 2016 at 6:49am PDT

28. Al Falah Housing Project, Abu Dhabi

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The Al Falah Housing Project is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The development covers 12.5 million square metres with 4,857 villas as well as mosques, schools, a shopping mall, and a hospital. /// Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jun 18, 2016 at 10:08am PDT

29. Port Vauban, a harbor located in Antibes on the French Riviera

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Massive yachts are docked in the stunning blue water of Port Vauban, a harbor located in Antibes on the French Riviera. The facility is the largest marina on the Mediterranean Sea in terms of total tonnage of the boats that are moored here. Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on May 19, 2016 at 11:11am PDT

30. Everglades National Park, Florida

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Everglades National Park in Florida is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States east of the Mississippi River, covering more than 1.5 million acres. The park was established in 1934 to protect the area’s fragile ecosystem and is home to 36 threatened or protected species including the American crocodile and West Indian manatee. Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on May 17, 2016 at 1:02pm PDT

31. Tulip fields, Lisse, Netherlands

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Today @instagram added a flash of color to their new icon so we thought we do the same on our feed! This Overview shows the stunningly vibrant tulips fields in Lisse, Netherlands that are in peak bloom at this time every year. The country produces 4.3 billion tulip bulbs annually. Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on May 11, 2016 at 12:32pm PDT

32. Seattle, Washington

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Today, en route to Portland, I’ll be passing through Seattle, Washington. The shipping containers at the city’s seaport are seen in this Overview. The facility handles more than two million containers (TEUs) each year, making it the 14th largest port in North America and the 57th largest in the world. Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on May 9, 2016 at 8:13am PDT

33. Shadegan Lagoon, Musa Bay, Iran

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Today we’re doing a PRINT GIVEAWAY as we just passed 275K followers! To enter the contest, TAG FOUR (4) FRIENDS in a comment on this Overview and we’ll randomly select a winner who will get to pick their favorite print from the ones we recently added to the Printshop (link to the ten choices in our profile). The newest pieces include this one of Shadegan Lagoon where dendritic drainage systems are visible by Musa Bay in Iran. The word ‘dendritic’ refers to the pools’ resemblance to the branches of a tree, and this pattern develops when streams move across relatively flat rocks or a surface that resists erosion. Good luck to everyone who enters the contest and once again, a sincere thank you for making Daily Overview what it is today! Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A post shared by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on May 3, 2016 at 9:03am PDT

Our planet so beautiful from up there… <3

H/T : Bored Panda