June 21st, 2010 Category: Lakes, Mountains

Japan - June 6th, 2010

Sado Island is located in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), 32 miles (51 km) west of Honshu. It faces Niigata, the prefectural capital, across the Sado Strait. Here, the city of Niigata appears as a greyish brown area along the shoreline, and greenish sediments or algae are present in the strait.

With an area of 331 square miles (857 square km), it is the fifth largest Japanese island. Sado is crowned by two parallel mountain chains, with Sado City appearing as a tan area in the valley between them. The island’s topography includes dramatic precipices and ravines, mountain streams, and Lake Kamō, located near the central eastern shoreline.

Tags: Asia Japan Lake Kamo Niigata Sado City Sado Island Sado Strait |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | | Leave a comment

June 18th, 2010 Category: Mountains

North Korea - June 2nd, 2010

North Korea occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. North Korea has an area of 47,399 sq mi (122,762 sq km) and a population of about (2009 est.) 24,162,000. The capital is P’yŏngyang.

North Korea’s land area largely consists of mountain ranges and uplands; its highest peak is Mount Paektu (9,022 ft [2,750 m]). North Korea has a centrally planned economy based on heavy industry (iron and steel, machinery, chemicals, and textiles) and agriculture.

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June 16th, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Snapshots

Japan - June 6th, 2010

Japan is an island country in East Asia, western Pacific Ocean. Its four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. It is separated from the Asian mainland by the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

Japan has an area of 145,920 sq mi (377,930 sq km) and a population (2009 est.) of about 127,556,000. The capital is Tokyo. Situated in one of Earth’s most geologically active zones, Japan experiences volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Mountain ranges cover some four-fifths of its land surface; its highest mountain is Mount Fuji.

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June 13th, 2010 Category: Snapshots

South Korea - June 2nd, 2010

South Korea is located in East Asia, occupying the southern half of the Korean peninsula, west of Japan.

South Korea has an area of 38,486 sq mi (99,678 sq km) and a population of (2008 est.) about 48,333,000. The capital is Seoul. Most of South Korea’s land area consists of mountains and uplands; its highest peak is Mount Halla (6,398 ft [1,950 m]) on Cheju Island. The lowlands are densely populated.

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June 10th, 2010 Category: Snapshots

Japan - June 2nd, 2010

Tokyo is the capital and largest city of Japan. It is located at the head of Tokyo Bay on the Pacific coast of central Honshu. It is the focus of the vast metropolitan area often called Greater Tokyo, the largest urban and industrial agglomeration in Japan.

The mainland portion of Tokyo lies northwest of Tokyo Bay and measures about 90 km east to west and 25 km north to south. Chiba Prefecture borders it to the east, Yamanashi to the west, Kanagawa to the south, and Saitama to the north.

Tags: Asia Chiba Prefecture Honshu Japan Kanagawa Pacific Ocean Saitama Tokyo Tokyo Bay Yamanashi |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | | Leave a comment

June 9th, 2010 Category: Lakes

Caspian Sea - June 1st, 2010

The Caspian Sea is an inland salt lake between Europe and Asia, bordering Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Iran. Though it receives many rivers, including the Volga, Ural, and Kura, the sea itself has no outlet.

With a basin 750 mi (1,200 km) long and up to 200 mi (320 km) wide and an area of 149,200 sq mi (386,400 sq km), it is the largest inland body of water in the world.

Tags: Asia Azerbaijan Caspian Sea Eurasia Europe Iran Kazakhstan Kura River Russia Ural River Volga River |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | | Leave a comment

June 8th, 2010 Category: Lakes, Rivers

China - June 2nd, 2010

Lake Hulun is a large lake in the Hulun Buir Plain, northern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China, near the border with Mongolia.

The lake, which appears light green in this image, is fed by two rivers that rise in Mongolia: the Kerulen (Kelulun), which flows from the west, and the Orxon (Orshun), which flows from the south. The surface area of Lake Hulun has fluctuated considerably based on variations in the climate.

Tags: Asia China Hulun Buir Plain Inner Mongolia Kelulun River Kerülen River Lake Hulun Mongolia Orshun River Orxon River |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | | Leave a comment

June 7th, 2010 Category: Snapshots

Red Sea - June 1st, 2010

The Red Sea (left) extends southeast from Suez, Egypt, for about 1,200 mi (1,930 km) to the Strait of Mandeb, which connects with the Gulf of Aden (right) and then with the Arabian Sea.

The Red Sea separates the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea from those of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It contains some of the world’s warmest and saltiest seawater. With its connection to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, it is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world.

Tags: Africa Arabian Sea Asia Eritrea Ethiopia Gulf of Aden Middle East Red Sea Saudi Arabia Strait of Mandeb Sudan Yemen |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | | Leave a comment

June 6th, 2010 Category: Mountains

Philippines - June 2nd, 2010

This orthorectified image shows Cebu Island, south-central Philippines. Located on Cebu Island’s eastern coast is Cebu City, protected by offshore Mactan Island and by the inland Cordillera Central.

It is one of the nation’s largest cities and a bustling port. Its harbour is provided by the sheltered strait between Mactan Island and the coast.

The nation’s oldest settlement, it is also one of its most historic and retains much of the flavour of its long Spanish heritage.

Tags: ASAR Asia Cebu City Cebu Island Cordillera Central Mactan Island Orthorectification Philippines |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | | Comments Off