a satellite image of a body of water surrounded by land

The intricate lines angling and criss-crossing over the landscape are roads in extreme southwestern Kazakhstan. The turquoise areas to the left are salt flats and marshes, some parts of which are submerged (dark blue). The water body is Sor Kaydak, which was once a gulf of the Caspian Sea. As water levels have dropped, curious patterns in the landscape emerged that reveal old tributaries.

USGS

a rocky landscape with mountains in the background

Tim Broadbent

A black and white photo of a large telescope

Maxim Makarov

a black and white photo of a ferris wheel

Esten Erbol

A person sitting in a large metal structure

Maxim Potkin ❄

Anatolii Shcherbyna

Darya Jum

The mountains are covered in snow and clouds

Alexander Liebstückel

a star made out of ice on a black background

a very tall building with lots of windows