Free High Quality Images of the Earth
There are plenty of images out there offering beautiful pictures and images of the earth. However, non compares to the computer generated super HIGH QUALITY 3D FREE image maps at http://earth.imagico.de/ [Views of the Earth]. This website is a well organized compilation of intensely aesthetic pictures of some of the most popular and geographically important regions in the world. These panaromas were created and organized by Christoph Hormann. The quality that Chris adds to these artificial images are well beyond any other or perhaps even real pictures.
Examples:
The Tsangpo Gorge
Quote: “The Tsangpo Gorge is the canyon where the Yarlung Tsangpo coming from the Tibetan Plateau cuts through the ridge of the Himalaya Mountains. The altitude difference from the bottom of the valley to the peaks of the adjacent mountains (the Namcha Barwa on the left) is more than 5000m at a distance of just about 20km.”
The Formation of the Bramaputra
Quote: “The Baramaputra River forms in the plains of northeastern India from multiple tributaries coming from the mountains around. The most important is the Yarlung Tsangpo coming from the Tibetan Plateau in the background right. After joining with the other rivers the Bramaputra leaves the area of this view on the left towards the Bay of Bengal.”
The Suez Canal
Quote: “The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea (foreground left) with the Gulf of Suez and thereby the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and this way shortens the sea passage from Europe to the Middle and Far East. The northern end of the canal is in the green Nile Delta but it then crosses directly through the desert with the Great Bitter Lake bein part of the canal. In the background the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea.”
Views of the Earth, Artificial Images of our Planet [Views of the Earth]
Do you have images of the Bay of Suez? I would be very interested