Blooming flora, mesmerizing ocean waves and glorious mountains are all examples of just how beautiful Earth can appear from here on the ground, but imagine how that beauty translates in space.
Put simply, our planet is impressively gorgeous when seen from above, and the Earth Observations team at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston seems to agree. On Monday, the team released its top 15 images of Earth that were taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station this year.
Scroll down to see the photos, which will take your breath away.
1
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Lake Chad, and the arid landscapes of the Sahara Desert.
2
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano with long swirls of volcanic gases wafting west.
3
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
The many peaks of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia.
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4
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Southern Scandinavia at night.
5
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
The delta and green swamps of the Paraná River in Argentina.
6
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
The Himalaya range, near the China–India border.
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7
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Laguna Colorada salt lake in Bolivia.
8
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Adele Island, off Australia’s north coast.
9
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Coastal lagoons in western Australia.
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10
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
The northern tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
11
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
The Port of Sfax in Tunisia.
12
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
The Mekong River on the border between Thailand and Laos.
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13
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Active thunderstorm (top left) in northwest Mexico.
14
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
Fish farms on the coast of China’s northeast province of Liaoning.
15
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
The India-Pakistan border at night.
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