Monday Geology Picture: Greenland View

A view of an icy, rocky landscape in Greenland, viewed from an airplane window.

I recently flew from London to Vancouver, and the views as we flew over the northern part of the globe were spectacular. I particularly enjoyed flying over Greenland, a country largely covered by ice and snow. I spent a good hour or so looking at the white landscapes, which only provided glimpses of the rocky landscape underneath – generally dark rocks peeking through the white and sometimes, it seemed, directing the course of icy flows. The pictures I took didn’t do justice to what I saw, but I’m sharing one picture with this week’s post. What a lovely treat to see such landscapes from above.

Plane Views: Denali

Three out of the four times that I flew between Anchorage and Nome, Alaska, the weather was overcast and clouds covered much of the landscape below. However, when I flew from Nome to Anchorage in August 2013 I was fortunate enough to fly on a day when skies were clear. I was thrilled to obtain a spectacular view of Denali, also known as Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America. Denali towers an impressive 20,237 feet above sea level. Flying over the Denali mountain range was a beautiful, humbling, thought-provoking experience. The landscape is certainly breathtaking. Rugged white mountain peaks are flanked by immense brown-and-white striped glaciers that snake down the slopes before melting into sediment-laden rivers that rush through green valleys then meander across the flat, pale green plain far below the mountain peaks. I found the glaciers particularly beautiful and fascinating. I also wondered and worried about what the glaciers will look like in 10 years, in 20 years, in 50 years, in 100 years– blinks of an eye in geologic time but significant periods in human time. Will the glaciers have shrunk due to warming climate? Will they be there at all? The immensity, and also the fragility, of the lofty landscape humbled me. So, too, did the thought that I was flying high above Denali, traveling in a little metal airplane built by little men (and women, I hope). I likely will never have the skill or guts or determination to climb a mountain such as Denali, but thanks to modern technology and some good weather conditions I was able to, for a little while at least, appreciate Denali’s beauty from a great height.

Below are some more plane views of Denali and the surrounding landscape. Enjoy! Please feel free to point out features on these pictures if you are familiar with the terrain. The National Park Service provides some information about the geology of Denali here.

Monday Geology Picture(s): Views from the World’s Tallest Building, Dubai

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. It's difficult to fit the building into one picture!

I’m continuing this week with sharing pictures from my January 2012 trip to visit my friend Karima in the United Arab Emirates. I mostly stayed with Karima and her family in Abu Dhabi, but one day we took a drive over to Dubai. While there, we visited the impressive Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. Here on Georneys I often like to post Plane Views or images of the Earth as viewed from an airplane. Well, some of the photographs that I took from the observation deck near the top of the Burj Khalifa certainly resemble plane views! I took some shots of the city of Dubai far below. I certainly found the views very impressive! I wish that I could have a Burj Khalifa– or an airplane, I suppose– that I could take with me anywhere in the world for such fantastic aerial views of the Earth’s landscape.

Plane Views: Amsterdam to Cape Town– Part II

Here is Part II of the views that I observed during a flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town back in September 2012. Part I is here. I believe that all of these shots were taken over Algeria. There are some stunning desert views. Although I grew up in relatively lush New England, I have always liked deserts. I think I first became enchanted by deserts when I was an exchange student and lived in Jordan for 5 months when I was 15 years old. My school in Jordan took me on visits to places such as Wadi Rum and Petra, and I quickly fell in love with the sands, rocks, animals, people, and historical ruins of the deserts there. Visiting the Jordanian deserts certainly helped inspire me to study geology.

I’ve never been to Algeria, but the desert views I observed while flying over Algeria are certainly enchanting. The young, volcanic Hoggar Mountains look particularly enticing. I hope that I can one day visit the deserts of Algeria. Has anyone been there?

Enjoy the desert views below. And, as always, feel free to point out interesting locations and geological features.

I still have some more views to share from this flight, so stay tuned for Part III!

Algeria10 — Algeria #10. Another view of the fire.

Algeria11 — Algeria #11. Sand, sand, sand.

Algeria17 — Algeria #17. Red, white, and blue desert hues.

Algeria19 — Algeria #19. A winding wadi leading into the Hoggar Mountains.

Algeria26 — Algeria #26. Volcanic mountain tops.

Plane Views: Amsterdam to Cape Town– Part I

AmsterdamtoCapeTown1 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #1.

After flying from Nome to Anchorage and then from Anchorage to Seattle and then from Seattle to Amsterdam, my husband and I finally boarded our last flight home, which was from Amsterdam to Cape Town. The flight was long (11.5 hours!), but we were fortunate to observe plenty of amazing scenery along the way.

In this post I’m sharing some pictures that I took during this Amsterdam to Cape Town flight. I actually took so many great pictures during the flight that I’m going to share them in multiple posts. The pictures in this first post were taken over Europe before we flew over the Mediterranean and then over Africa. Please feel free to point out locations, geological features, and other interesting things in the pictures. Perhaps some people with strong Google Earth fu can help me pinpoint some of the locations. Enjoy!

AmsterdamtoCapeTown2 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #2.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown3 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #3.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown4 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #4.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown5 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #5.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown6 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #6.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown7 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #7.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown8 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #8.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown9 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #9. Just stunning!

AmsterdamtoCapeTown10 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #10.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown11 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #11.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown12 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #12.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown13 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #13.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown14 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #14.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown15 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #15. Beautiful.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown16 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #16. Occasionally, I remembered to take pictures of our location on the monitor.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown17 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #17. A landslide feature for Dave?

AmsterdamtoCapeTown18 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #18.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown19 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #19. A Friday Fold for Callan?

AmsterdamtoCapeTown20 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #20.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown21 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #21. A stunning quarry / mine.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown23 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #23. The sea!

AmsterdamtoCapeTown24 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #24.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown25 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #25.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown26 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #26. A spikey, lovely island.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown27 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #27.

AmsterdamtoCapeTown28 — Amsterdam to Cape Town #28.

Plane Views: Seattle to Amsterdam

SeattletoAmsterdam1 — Most of the flight was dark, but there was a beautiful sunrise above the clouds when morning arrived.

I’m nearly done sharing all of my pictures from my trip to Alaska in July to September 2012. I just need to finish up two outstanding “Plane Views” posts and then share some pictures and information from a wonderful sea kayaking trip in Prince William Sound. However, I’m most likely going back to Alaska again in a few months, so there will probably be more about Alaska in the future here on Georneys.

On to the airplane pictures, though! After flying from Nome to Anchorage and then from Anchorage to Seattle, my husband and I took a flight from Seattle to Amsterdam. We flew overnight and were often above the clouds, so I didn’t take very many pictures. Also, we were flying business class and were actually able to sleep on the airplane! However, I did take a few pictures as the plane landed in Europe on a somewhat rainy day.

I have some really amazing pictures from our next flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town, so stay tuned for those!

SeattletoAmsterdam2 — Approaching Amsterdam.

SeattletoAmsterdam3 — A rainy, choppy morning along the coast.

SeattletoAmsterdam5 — Houses from above.

SeattletoAmsterdam6 — A scenic river / canal.

SeattletoAmsterdam7 — Another river view.

SeattletoAmsterdam8 — One last view before landing.

Plane Views: Anchorage to Seattle

After flying from Nome to Anchorage back in September 2012, my husband and I spent a night in a hotel, had dinner with some colleagues, and then very early the next morning headed to the airport for our next flight to Seattle. Below are some pictures we took from the airplane. I believe that most of these shots were taken over British Columbia. Enjoy! And, as always, feel free to point out any interesting geological features or locations.

ToSeattle1 — Anchorage to Seattle #1. Early morning light.

ToSeattle3 — Anchorage to Seattle #3. A misty glacier.

Plane Views: Nome to Anchorage

A few months ago, I shared some pictures taken during a set of four flights from Cape Town, South Africa to Nome, Alaska:

Cape Town to Amsterdam
Amsterdam to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to Anchorage
Anchorage to Nome

Now, I’d like to share some pictures taken during the return journey in September 2012, which was Nome –> Anchorage –> Seattle –> Amsterdam –> South Africa. This first post contains some pictures taken during the Nome to Anchorage flight. The visibility in Nome was actually fairly good on the day of our departure, so I managed to take some decent pictures of the Nome Harbor and such. Enjoy! Feel free to point out any interesting geological locations or features.

NometoAnchorage1 — Nome to Anchorage #1. Waiting to take off at the Nome Airport.

NometoAnchorage2 — Nome to Anchorage #2.

NometoAnchorage3 — Nome to Anchorage #3. Flying over Nome.

NometoAnchorage4 — Nome to Anchorage #4. The Nome Harbor.

NometoAnchorage5 — Nome to Anchorage #5. Another view of the Nome Harbor.

NometoAnchorage6 — Nome to Anchorage #6. View of the harbor and some of the town.

NometoAnchorage7 — Nome to Anchorage #7. Some of the town.

NometoAnchorage8 — Nome to Anchorage #8. Another view of part of town.

NometoAnchorage9 — Nome to Anchorage #9. Reaching the edge of town. There are little gold dredges on the water.

NometoAnchorage10 — Nome to Anchorage #10.

NometoAnchorage11 — Nome to Anchorage #11.

NometoAnchorage12 — Nome to Anchorage #12.

NometoAnchorage13 — Nome to Anchorage #13.

NometoAnchorage14 — Nome to Anchorage #14.

NometoAnchorage15 — Nome to Anchorage #15. Gorgeous braided river.

NometoAnchorage16 — Nome to Anchorage #16.

NometoAnchorage17 — Nome to Anchorage #17.

NometoAnchorage18 — Nome to Anchorage #18.

NometoAnchorage19 — Nome to Anchorage #19.

NometoAnchorage20 — Nome to Anchorage #20.

NometoAnchorage21 — Nome to Anchorage #21.

NometoAnchorage22 — Nome to Anchorage #22.

NometoAnchorage23 — Nome to Anchorage #23. Descending to Anchorage.

NometoAnchorage24 — Nome to Anchorage #24. Landing in Anchorage.

I’ll share some more “Plane Views” soon!

Plane Views: Anchorage to Nome

This is Part IV (the final part) of my series of “Plane View” pictures taken during my trip from Cape Town, South Africa to Nome, Alaska. Part I is here, and Part II is here, and Part III is here.

After we reached Anchorage, my husband and I had three nights to recover from jetlag (and do some work, kayaking, and shopping) before our flight up to Nome. Thus, we were rested and able to enjoy the views on the flight to Nome although cloud cover kept us from seeing the best views of Nome. Perhaps when we fly out next month the weather will be clearer, and we’ll be able to see more.

Enjoy the pictures! As usual, please feel free to comment on any interesting geological features which you observe.

Flying out of Anchorage:

Middle of Flight:

ToNome15 — To Nome #15. A rainbow in the sky!

Flying into Nome:

ToNome20 — To Nome #20. In Nome at last!!!

Plane Views: Minneapolis to Anchorage

This is Part III of my series of “Plane View” pictures taken during my trip from Cape Town, South Africa to Nome, Alaska. Part I is here, and Part II is here.

By this third flight, my husband and I were starting to become fairly tired. However, we managed to take some excellent pictures out the window anyway, particularly as we approached Anchorage. Enjoy! Feel free to comment on any interesting geology you see!