One of the most awe-inspiring things any human has ever seen – the “overview effect”. It happens mostly to astronauts, who are able to see our Blue Marble from all the way up. Benjamin Grant in his instagram “Daily Overview” uses this effect to take stunning images of landmarks, man-made structures and crazy natural phenomena, as though they’ve been taken from the Earth’s orbit. How does he do that? A real magician never reveals his secrets (you can google that yourself). Anyway, enjoy this small sample of how amazing our planet is! Remember, all of these are actual, real places on Earth.
1. Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France
Fun fact: The names of all 125 battles of the 1st French Republic and Napoleon’s Empire and the names of all the generals are scribbled on the walls of the Arc. Informative place I’d say.
2. Neighbourhoods of Sntosh Park and Uttam Nagar, India
Not-so-fun fact: Because of the overpopulation, people in these districts are forced to live in extreme conditions that none of us can even imagine because we take even toilets for granted.
3. Whirlpool interchange, Dubai, UAE
Another fun fact: currently almost 25% of all the construction cranes on the planet are in Dubai.
4. Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, US
Seeing over 160 old and retired planes in one spot is a pretty good reality check. Makes you think about what’s going to happen to you when you’re unable to fly.
5. Cargo ships and tankers, port of Singapore
You’re looking at the world’s second-busiest port right after the port of Shanghai, which snagged Singapore’s port supremacy crown just a few years ago.
6. Central Park, New York City, US
This magnificent park may look huge in comparison to your local one but it takes up only 6% of the island of Manhattan.
7. The Moab Potash Ponds, Utah, US
Fascinating how vibrant the colors can be in a pond full of water and salts. Those salts will later be used by farmers as a fertilizer.
8. Lamberts Point Pier 6, Norfolk, Virginia, US
Behold! This here is the biggest coal-landing facility in the Northern Hemisphere.
9. The Great Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, Egypt
They’re just as mysterious now as they were a thousand years ago. Nobody wants to mess with the cursed mummies.
10. The roads through Stelvio Pass, Italy
This serpentine road is the highest paved route in the Eastern Alps. 10/10 would fall off before getting to the top.
11. Huelva Orchard, Spain
Those are not worms or hedge mazes, they’re fruit trees swirling their juicy branches on the hills of the Huelva orchard. Scary how nature does that!
12. The Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, US
Billions of tiny cyanobacteria drifting from the cooler edges of the spring, forming remarkable, almost rainbow-like, rings from their pigments.
13. Tulip fields, Lisse, Netherlands
In April the entire country drowns in vivid colors of tulips. From red to blue, from cheap to “holy hell, is that a price tag or your phone number?” But regardless, this is a truly breathtaking view.
14. Aluminum toxic waste pond, Darrow, Louisiana, US
Continuing our “colorful” motif, let’s check out these waste ponds. They may look beautiful but don’t you dare go swimming there, unless you want to know how toilet paper feels in water (hint: it dissolves).
15. The Medina quarter, Marrakech, Morocco
If you hate mazes or you’re just bad at spatial orientation, do not go to Marrakech, as you’ll easily get lost in the twisted labyrinths of this north African city. Or you can just call a cab!
Go see more of Benjamin’s works on his Instagram and tell us if you’ve visited any of the locations from this list!
