Nowadays, you can travel all across the globe, witness incredible sites, and experience different cultures. Yet one thing most of us don't get the opportunity to do is to observe all of these things from above - and we mean really observe, not just catch a glimpse of a city landscape as the airplane lands. But thanks to modern photography, we can re-experience iconic landmarks and mother nature's gifts from a different perspective. So prepare to see our world in a new light as we take a virtual magic carpet ride.
Meet the Lady of the North
Oh, man. The next time you're traveling by plane or helicopter or hot air balloon, or any other kind of airborne device across the great land of Northern England, you may want to make sure you don't have any people under the age of 18 with you, seeing as the view can get get a little rated-R at times. This gorgeous and unique attraction garners over 200 thousand yearly visitors.
Its name is Northumberlandia, but it is also commonly referred to as the "Lady of the North." A fitting, majestic name for a magnificent piece of gardenwork.
This Must've Taken a While to Design
The Plaza Del Ejectuvio in Mexico City is surely one of the world's most amazing and impressive works of urban design; it is a perfect expression of how sublime our advanced civilization can be at times. In a way, however, it's only possible to truly appreciate this architectural feat when you look at it from above. That, to us, just makes this accomplishment that much more unique and breathtaking.
This structure of 16 streets meeting in the middle may seem familiar to some; that is because it's a homage to the Italian town of Palmanova, to which it owes its design.
Hoover Dam Is Just as Cool From Above
By this point, we're pretty sure that nearly everyone has already seen Hoover Dam. But have you ever seen Hoover Dam from above like this? It's a pretty thing to see, in our opinion. Pictures like these make us think that this is definitely a place worth visiting or perhaps revisiting. It seems as though this place's vibe becomes that much more special and unique as time marches on.
So why not take this as a reminder to travel to Lake Mead and check out Hoover Dam with your own two eyes? What's not to like about an Arizona road trip?
We Would've Never Guessed This Is the Everglades
When you look at this photograph from top to bottom, it looks as though those squiggly things are tree branches. Not only that, but it also looks as though those tree branches are getting redder and angrier as you go down, which is strange. In truth, however, those aren't tree branches, and they definitely aren't angry. What's photographed in this picture is Everglades National Park in Florida. Didn't see that one coming.
What Everglades National Park is known for, other than its angry tree branches, is one of the most extensive and eclectic wildlife populations in the entire United States of America.
Bet You've Never Seen San Francisco Like This, Have You?
It's funny how people can live in one place for tens of years, perhaps their entire lives, and never actually thoroughly look at their living grounds from all angles. Before we had drones and airplanes and expensive cameras, it was pretty much impossible to get a view like this unless you hiked up to a nearby mountain, if there even was one. Thankfully, the advent of modern photography has allowed us to enjoy this view.
Truth be told, we never even thought about how San Francisco would like from above. It just didn't cross our minds. Now, thanks to this picture, we'll never have to imagine it because we've seen the real deal.
Yeah, This Is A Real Place
Okay, so we're not going to lie. Our first thought when we saw this photograph for the first time was: "Yeah, no way that's real." Then, finally, when we made peace with reality and accepted that this photograph was indeed genuine, we immediately thought that it had to be a picture of some kind of micro-organism as seen from under a microscope. But no, this is just a place in Hong Kong.
What we're looking at is a cluster of tetrapods made out of concrete. These are located in High Island Reservoir. They are, in a word, beautiful, if we do say so ourselves.
Boy, China Really Likes Canola
Don't believe us? Well, just feast your eyes on all that yellow stuff in the picture. That's not corn, nor is it a huge stretch of daisies or sunflowers; what that is, is canola. Now, we've never even thought to ourselves how large the canola fields of the world must be for there to be so much canola oil in the world, but now we know, and we won't forget this.
Those canola fields are quite expansive, if we do say so ourselves. Like, they're just so huge. We wonder how much canola oil you could make out of the whole patch.
How Did They Make It So Neat?
We're not sure how we got to this point in human history, but we as a species have gotten to the point where we can just pretty much make very complicated and huge things look extremely organized and neat. Now, we're not sure who designed this place, but we're pretty sure whoever did it was kind of obsessed with symmetry and organization and other visual fixations. There is absolutely no denying that.
Now, you're probably wondering to yourselves: what even is this place pictured in the photograph? Well, rest assured, we've got you covered - this is the Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ohio.
This Is Where Dragons Live
Yeah, there's absolutely no doubt in our minds that if dragons exist, this is where they live. It's like this terrain was written by a fantasy writer like Tolkien or George R.R. Martin, given just how dragon-like it seems. Just look at that steaming lake in the middle. Yeah, now way a human's dipping his toes in one of those without suffering the repercussions. In short, this is the ultimate place to go dragon spotting.
What this place really is, though, is Kawah Ijen, a famous strata volcano located in the East Java province of Indonesia. This also means that dragons are Indonesian in descent.
European Cities Are Just Built Different
There's absolutely no way any American city could look so good when photographed from above. No offense, it's just that European cities are literally built differently for some reason. Europeans didn't go for the whole grid urban design thing and just kind of went for weird, wacky, zany shapes instead. This is great when you're taking photographs from above. It's a bit more troublesome when you're trying to navigate the city as a tourist.
That being said, there's absolutely no way to argue about this picture right here; there's no way of saying that this city doesn't look beautiful from above. You just have to give it to the Europeans.
Who Knew Flower Fields Were Even Prettier From Above
Seriously, anyone who has ever been to a flower field in person knows just how amazing those things are. Surrounding yourself with what some consider the most beautiful thing in nature, flowers, is nothing short of a majestic experience. But who knew that flower fields were just as pretty from above? This photograph of the Tulip Fields in The Netherlands proves just that. It's as though they were simulated into reality.
That's just how pretty and neat these things are, and you can definitely see the accuracy and dedication with which these fields were grown when you look at them from above.
It's Like Looking at Ants
There is this one video that has been circulating all around the internet for quite a while now. The video depicts an iPhone lying on its back with the screen facing the camera right next to a bunch of ants going about their daily ant business. Then, suddenly, the phone begins to ring, and the ants all begin to orbit the phone as if they were possessed by some magical cult spell.
This photograph definitely reminds us of that video. But those aren't ants. This construction is called Galaxia, and it is located in Nevada. It was painstakingly crafted by the French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani.
No, This Isn't the New Matrix. Just A Satellite Picture
This definitely looks like some kind of bug in the Matrix-type scenario, but it's not that at all. Imagine our surprise when we found out this picture wasn't CGI depicting the misadventures and shenanigans of Neo, The Matrix's Chosen One. It can't be just us that thought about the famous movie series when we first saw this picture, can it? Truth be told, it probably can. We just love The Matrix.
This is actually just a satellite photo of a region in the Netherlands, which is crazy, given that we thought the Netherlands was composed of strictly canals and flower fields.
Who Transported These Houses to the 5th Dimension?
Oh, wow. This is one incredibly freaky and psychedelic picture. It looks as though those houses were picked from our reality and elated into some other, higher plane of being. Now, although this photo does certainly look like something straight out of a Doctor Strange movie, it is a real place in our world that any one of us could actually visit if we wanted to. The only problem is, it's in France.
More specifically, this photograph is a top-down view of Sisteron, which is located in Southeastern France. We can only imagine how this town looks at ground level. It must be truly beautiful.
There's No Place Like the Land Down Under
Now, this spectacular view, as photographed from above, may look like a flower upon some alien land, but it isn't - it's just Earth. Well, more specifically, what we're seeing in this satellite photograph right here is a bird's-eye view of Willie Creek, Western Australia. Located approximately 17 kilometers to the North of Broome (another more recognized place in Australia), this place is known for its intricate pearl jewels and such.
But, perhaps the best way to visit this place is to view it from above, as we're doing right now. The way the sea carves its twisting body into the land is nothing short of majestic.
French Birds Get One Heck of a View
It's no secret that France is a beautiful country when it comes to architecture and its views. And who knew that from a bird's-eye view, it's just as beautiful. The photo below shows the complexity and detail that went into designing Paris, a city that then inspired urban design all over the world, including in the United States capitol of Washington, D.C. Talk about being a big deal!
Maybe next time we visit the City of Love, we'll invest in a helicopter ride to get more city views like this.
One of These Rivers Is Definitely Dirtier Than the Other
So, we definitely don't want to be the ones to roast a literal river, but we might just have to. Look at the difference between these two rivers; what on Earth is up with that? The people of Chongqing, China (yes, that is the actual name of the place) certainly do have some explaining to do as to why one river is so squeaky clean and the other one is so polluted.
While we know that nature does work in mysterious ways and that not everything has a good explanation, we're pretty sure that there's a reason why these twin rivers seem so different.
Whoever Did This Puzzle Got It All Wrong
Look, we're not trying to dunk on anyone here. We're sure whoever tried to solve this puzzle had the best intentions and is probably a very talented and intelligent person. That being said, they did a horrible job with this puzzle piece right here. Just look at all those disparate pieces. They're not forming a coherent image at all. This isn't how puzzles should be. Wait, what do you mean this isn't a puzzle?
Oh, it's actually a top-down picture of a real geographical location in Logan County, Colorado? You don't say. Well then, the person who designed this must certainly love giving people headaches.
This Is How An Airshow Looks to A Pilot
Now, pretty much all of us have seen an airshow or something along those lines, whether it was in person, on TV, or on the internet. But what we've never thought about is how the people performing the airshow, as in the pilots, witnessed the airshow themselves. While we were looking up at them, they were looking down on us. We've got to say that the airshow looks pretty cool from the pilot's point of view, too.
The way the people organizing the show made sure all the planes were perfectly lined up and symmetrical is pretty aesthetically pleasing as well. What's not to like about the whole thing?
Venice From Above
Look, we're not going to lie; this island definitely looks like Patrick the Star from the hit TV show SpongeBob. What's worse is that this island doesn't just look like regular-old Patrick; it looks like a very abysmal version of the lovable sea creature. It looks as though Patrick is suffering or something like that, which is definitely one effective way to pull on our heartstrings. Pray for Patrick, everyone.
On a second thought, this also looks a lot like a kangaroo. But this isn't Patrick nor a kangaroo; this is the famous Italian island of Venice. Yeah, you know, the place with all the cool canals everywhere. Definitely a location worth visiting.
Not All Lightbulbs Were Created Equal
No, this isn't a map of the stars taken by some kind of futuristic telescope that costs more than the accumulative wealth of half the population of the United States that only NASA has access to; it's just a satellite picture of the great city of London. What's truly cool about this image is how you can spot the different kinds of lights which vary in brightness that are scattered all across the city.
We'll be the first to admit that England definitely gets a bad rep nowadays, but when you look at London from above like this, it is hard to find any faults with the city.
Are Those... Spiders?
Who on Earth thought it was a good idea to design a rooftop in such a way that it would create an optical illusion that would make it seem to anyone taking a picture of the building from above that there were huge spiders crawling all over the entire construction? Well, we're not sure who it was, but we do hope he'll take a good, hard look at himself in the mirror.
These 3D paintings were painted onto the roof of the Seattle Center in Armory, Washington. The spiders themselves were the work of mural painter Marlin Peterson, bless his spider-loving soul.
Imagine This Was Your Drive to Work
This spectacular view we're all getting the pleasure to feast our eyes upon is none other than Valhalla Dam, New York. Now, this definitely isn't your average view, not in New York nor anywhere else. What's truly amazing about this view is just how natural and oceanic it is. Like, imagine driving across that long bridge on your way to work. It must be nothing short of a serene experience.
Or maybe this is just one of those views that look that much more spectacular from above. Maybe seeing that bridge infested with countless cars kind of takes away the charm of the whole thing.
This Has Got to Be an Abstract Painting
Somehow, this isn't a painting. Yeah, finding out that this wasn't drawn on a canvas with oil paints definitely took us by surprise too. What this is, surprisingly, is a top-down photograph of Roebuck Bay, located in Western Australia, which seems to be a prime location for zany natural landmarks. Yeah, all those weird markings are just the way this ocean shore looks when photographed from above. Pretty crazy, right?
The area is also home to a staggering amount of mangroves, otherwise known as salt-tolerant trees. Their presence, too, is what helps make this photograph so visually compelling and so colorful.
Scratch That, This Is Where Dragons Live
Okay, forget that other place we mentioned when we talked about dragons and their habitats. This is definitely where they would live if they existed. Seriously, what's even going on here? This habitat looks unhospitable even to the most hard-boiled and tough species. It should be common knowledge by now that scary purple things in nature are pretty much always bad news. We wouldn't go anywhere near this place if we were you.
Now, you're probably asking yourself: but what is this place? Where is this place? Truth be told, this place is called Akimski Island, and it's in Canada. Yup, that's right - Canada.
Pretty Psychedelic
No, this isn't some kind of painting inspired by the works of Vincent Van Gough and other modern artists; this is just a satellite picture of Algeria. Well, to be more specific, we are talking about the Algerian part of the great Sahara desert. This region is known for its dry climates and can go without rain for long periods. For that reason, it was given the nickname: the "Triangle of Fire."
So, yeah. As pretty as it may look from above, you're probably better off avoiding the harsh climate of this desert in person unless you're some kind of desert-crossing expert.
What on Earth Are Those Tentacles
No, seriously. This cannot be a real place. It just can't. Think about it. This thing looks like some kind of 3D CGI nightmare, like some kind of thing you'd see at a digital art exhibition where all those young, hipster artists showcase their skills in 3D animations of eerie and crystalized creatures. Okay, that might have been an obscure reference, but we're pretty sure the point got across anyhow.
What this satellite photograph is truly depicting, however, is just the Bahamas. Yeah, weird, right? We always pictured the Bahamas would have fewer tentacles.
This Washington Terminal Is Heaven for Neat Freaks
Some people certainly do appreciate things being nice, clean, organized, and orderly more than others do. That's just the way things are with people; some of them need to have their houses spotless at all times, while others don't mind rotting in a pile of their filth for a month or two before giving their floors a nice vacuum cleaning. Those who appreciate cleanliness are bound to get a kick out of this picture.
It's impossible not to appreciate just how organized everything in this photograph is. The fact that this is a picture of a container terminal in Washington makes it that much more impressive.
That Can't Be Good
What this photograph is depicting is none other than the Camp Fire in Northern California, which, for those who were living under a rock for the past few years, was the deadliest wildfire in Californian history and the second deadliest wildfire in the history of the United States. All things considered, that's quite the wildfire if we do say so ourselves. Just looking at it from above is enough to give us the chills.
One can only imagine how that intense wildfire looked at ground level. We know one thing for certain - we're pretty sure it was thoroughly destructive and perhaps also kind of pretty.
Looks Like A Rabbit to Us
Look, we're pretty sure there are some very interesting things we could mention about this photograph. Things like the location of this place, the way this place took shape over the years, the geographical and human factors that led to this happening, but we're just going to talk about how this island kind of looks like a rabbit to us. Can you really blame us, though? The resemblance is uncanny.
It even looks like the rabbit is eating a small, green carrot. Let it be known to all, Mossel Bay, South Africa, looks very much like a rabbit when photographed from above.
A City Made of Greenhouses
Did somebody just scatter a bunch of mirrors all across this land or something? Because there's no way that natural land can look that shiny from above. Well, while those aren't mirrors, they aren't exactly pieces of regular, old land. In Almeria, Spain, a hefty load of greenhouses were bunched together for agricultural purposes. The result is one heck of a picture taken from above. Bet the people who built the greenhouses didn't even think of that.
These greenhouses are definitely one of a kind. There are probably very few areas in the world that look like this, which makes it the perfect place to photograph from above.
These Guys Made a Pool in the Shape of a Bottle Opener
Whoever designed this probably didn't intentionally design it to be shaped like a bottle opener, you know, the ones people use to open bottles of wine with. That is, however, what came out in the end. At least, we can't help but see a bottle opener in that lake, or whatever that body of water is technically called. Also, all those colorful crates really look nice when they're photographed from above.
Like most of the places in this article, this picture was taken in Australia. The place is called Swanson Dock, a multinational shipping facility renowned across the whole world.
Only the Brave Venture Here
This photograph, surprisingly, is an aerial picture of none other than Antarctica. Well, technically, it's a photograph of Mcmurdo Station, which is located in Antarctica. Mcmurdo Station is one of those Arctic research centers that people go to in order to study snow and icebergs and other nerdy meteorological phenomena. Truth be told, as far as a life devoted to science goes, living in Antarctica does sound kind of cool to us.
Also, we are going to have to comment on the fact that this photo does kind of look like a golf bat hitting a deformed golf ball. We can't be the only ones to see it, can we?
This Kind of Looks Like a Face and the River Is Its Moustache
Okay, bear with us for a second. Doesn't this satellite image of some real geographical location kind of remind you of the Pringles mascot? You know, the guy with the pale, white skin and the iconic mustache? Because that's definitely the first thing that popped up in our heads when we first saw this image, but maybe that's just us and our twisted brains. That's probably what it is.
Thankfully, this isn't some kind of geographical formation that morphed into the Pringles man or something like that. This is just an aerial photograph of the city of Seoul, South Korea.
The Russian-Georgian Border Is Pretty Wild
Who knew rock formations could look so cool? Well, actually, if we're being honest, we have to admit that rock formations are admittedly some of the coolest-looking things in the world. Rocks are just super cool in general, in our opinion. Like, ordinary rocks. Now imagine an entire formation of rocks; that's got to be overwhelmingly cool. The way they twist and contort and all that, you can't say that isn't cool.
The way different rock formations actually form is truly incredible, too; it's all about chemicals and minerals and long, natural processes that occur throughout hundreds, if not thousands of years.