Explore the world from the air
Have you ever found yourself in an aircraft gazing out of the cabin window in wonder at the world thousands of metres below?
Click on a theme from the bar above and explore some of the common geographical features that are seen from plane windows across the world every day.
Themes range from natural to human geography, including caves, cities, volcanoes and railways.
Singapore to Jakarta
Start exploring the flight path from Singapore to Jakarta by clicking the button below, or choose a specific place of interest to start at by clicking on an image below.
Every year, millions of passengers fly the short journey between two of Southeast Asia’s largest cities, Singapore and Jakarta.
Although a mere 900km, this flight path crosses thousands of islands that lie scattered along the east coast of Sumatra. Each type of island formation can be seen on this flight, from the volcanic Riau Islands to the continental islands of Bangka and Belitung and the coral islands of Kepulauan Seribu (the Thousand Islands).
The colonial history of the region echoes through each of the points along this journey; however, today it is the two global cities that bookend the flight path which exert their influence over the regions that lie between them as Singapore and Indonesia change and adapt to accommodate their growing economies and populations.
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from Singapore to Jakarta
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Frankfurt to Baku
Start exploring the flight path from Frankfurt to Baku by clicking the button below, or choose a specific place of interest to start at by clicking on an image below.
The journey between the skyscraper cities of Frankfurt and Baku is a cross-section of the diversity of Europe’s landscapes and cultures: from mountains to plains, rivers to seas, and ancient cities to modern metropolises.
People have inhabited the European continent for thousands of years and evidence of them can be found in every landscape, from the ancient history of Bohemia to the highest settlements in Europe found in the Caucasus Mountains. However, life still pulses through the region as evidenced by the constant growth of the largest cities along the route.
This flight path also celebrates the diversity of wildlife found in Europe, from the fish in the Dnieper River to the algae in the Sea of Azov and the last populations of European wolves and bears in the Carpathian Mountains.
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from Frankfurt to Baku
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Delhi to Hong Kong
Start exploring the flight path from Delhi to Hong Kong by clicking the button below, or choose a specific place of interest to start at by clicking on an image below.
From the highest mountains in the world to some of the world’s largest rivers, the flight path between Delhi and Hong Kong provides a glimpse into the sheer size and physical diversity of Asia.
However, people can be found at all extremes of the landscape, from the heavily populated fertile floodplains to the few climbers who have reached the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
This flight also connects two of Asia’s most influential cities while crossing some of the most productive regions in Asia, including China’s industrial manufacturing hubs, the agricultural zones of India and Nepal and the busy Brahmaputra River and Pearl River Basin.
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from Delhi to Hong Kong
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Buenos Aires to Santiago
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The route between Buenos Aires and Santiago cuts through the heart of Argentina and Chile’s iconic landscapes and cultures.
90% of the two hour route between Buenos Aires and Santiago will be spent gazing at the Argentinian landscape below. From Buenos Aires and the Rio de la Plata on the east coast, across the vast Pampas grasslands until Cuyo’s vineyards begin to rise into the Andes Mountains forming the country’s western border. Each landscape has its own cultural identity that is closely tied to the landscape.
The remaining 10% of the flight is a spectacular descent into Santiago: the city is framed by the white peaks of the Andes, and offers an interesting comparison to the rest of the flight path.
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from Buenos Aires to Santiago
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Denver to Seattle
Start exploring the flight path from Denver to Seattle by clicking the button below, or choose a specific place of interest to start at by clicking on an image below.
The route between the two 19th century boomtowns of Denver and Seattle follows the path of hundreds of thousands of emigrants who battled their way through the mountainous northwest quarter of the contiguous United States to settle in the West.
As you fly over several sub-ranges of the Rockies, learn how the power of glaciers, rivers and the wind have shaped the landscape and see the volcanic cones of the Cascade Mountains as you descend towards Seattle.
Amongst the spectacular yet hostile landscapes there are pockets of humanity, where Native Americans thrived for ten thousand years and modern cities have sprung up at the feet of mountains and along the lengths of rivers.
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Hong Kong to Singapore
Start exploring the flight path from Hong Kong to Singapore by clicking the button below, or choose a specific place of interest to start at by clicking on an image below.
The South China Sea has long been a conduit for human movement in Southeast Asia. As a vital trade route as well as an essential fishing ground and potential source of oil and gas, the sea is at the centre of the region’s economy. However, the sea's value has made it hugely desirable for bordering nations, who now compete for sovereignty.
The flight path is bookended by two of the most important business and financial centres in Asia: Hong Kong and Singapore. Yet despite being more than 2,200km apart, these cities share many similarities.
In contrast, between these two cities lie some of the most idyllic beaches and diverse marine life in Southeast Asia; from the tourist resorts of Nha Trang in Vietnam to the remote Paracel and Spratly Islands that pepper the South China Sea.
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from Hong Kong to Singapore
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Mumbai to Delhi
Start exploring the flight path from Mumbai to Delhi by clicking the button below, or choose a specific place of interest to start at by clicking on an image below.
India is experiencing one of the most remarkable economic transformations of any nation on Earth. At the heart of this economic evolution are the financial and cultural hubs of Mumbai and Delhi: two ancient cities, brimming with thousands of years of history which now represent a modern India.
However, this economic transformation is evident throughout the rest of the flight path: over northwest India are new environments, people and economies which have developed amongst traditional cultures.
For example as the Indian population’s thirst for electricity grows, the sub-continent's many rivers have been dammed to generate hydroelectricity such as along the Narmada Valley.
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from Mumbai to Delhi
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Cairo to Lagos
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The flight path between Cairo and Lagos crosses some of the driest parts of the planet. Yet these inhospitable places are inhabited by millions of people who rely on a few crucial water supplies: the annual floods of the Nile, the ancient aquifer that underlies the Libyan Desert and the shrinking Lake Chad.
However, an ever-growing population is putting strain on this finite water supply. For example the Great Man-Made River Project in Libya threatens to drain the underground aquifer that has supported life here for thousands of years and Lake Chad continues to shrink.
At either end of the flight path are the two largest cities in Africa: both are dynamic, vibrant mega-cities which grow by thousands of people each year. In contrast to these cities, and as a demonstration of the incredible diversity which exists in Africa, is the fascinating story of life in the desert that has gone on for centuries.
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from Cairo to Lagos
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Madrid to Rio de Janeiro
Over half of the flight path from Madrid to Rio de Janeiro is covered by water: yet across the second largest ocean on the planet are cultures, underwater volcanoes and islands that provide a fascinating journey which you might not expect.
The flight covers over 5,500km of Atlantic Ocean between the 2,000-year-old Spanish port of Seville and the northeast tip of Brazil. Off the coast of Africa, the flight crosses the volcanic Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands: both groups contain striking landscapes and unique cultures. Beneath the waves of the central Atlantic is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a huge seam in the Earth’s surface. Further south the route crosses the Equator, separating the northern and southern hemisphere.
Bookending the maritime section of the flight path are Spain and Brazil: two countries which played key roles in colonial expansion across the Atlantic Ocean. Yet each country now has its own modern identity and culture, re-enforced by its own distinct landscapes.
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Hong Kong to Bangkok
The flight path between Hong Kong and Bangkok crosses some of the most iconic regions of Southeast Asia and Southern China. Yet, hidden between these tourist spots are lesser known cities, farms and beautiful temples that are essential to the cultural and economic fabric of this part of the world.
A common theme amongst all of these places is the importance of transport, both domestic and international, to their modern economic growth. Whether this is a new bridge across the Mekong, a shipping route to the port of Macau or the opening of Dong Hoi Airport, improved transport across the region’s challenging physical landscape has been a catalyst for economic development.
The same landscape also provides the flight path with a striking background: for example the karst limestone features of Ha Long Bay on the Vietnamese coastline or the vast Isan Plateau of northeast Thailand.
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from Hong Kong to Bangkok
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Vancouver to Los Angeles
The west coast of the United States is littered with active volcanoes, sheer mountains and dramatic pine filled valleys. As well as providing spectacular scenery, these features are also key pieces of evidence that help us understand the geological history of this region.
Some of the USA’s most famous and iconic scenery sits beneath the flight path: Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada, for example, is a classic example of the romanticised American West. Further north the active volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains, such as Mount St. Helens, remind us that even the most powerful nations can be humbled by Earth’s natural processes.
However, humans have also played an increasingly involved role in this landscape: from the Native Americans who first inhabited the region, to the immigrant pioneers who settled in the mid-18th Century, to the extreme sports enthusiasts who now use it as their playground.
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from Vancouver to Los Angeles
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Cairo to Doha
From ancient Arab settlements to the oil fuelled glass and steel skyscrapers of modern Doha, this flight path explores the elaborate relationship of water, oil and trade in the human and physical geography of this region.
Explore the dry river beds of Wadi Rum and the vibrant wildlife of the Persian Gulf to discover how water has helped to shape the landscape and provide habitats for many species, including homo sapiens. Yet the sea also provides a pivotal method of transport to and from the coastal cities of Cairo, Suez and Doha, connecting them to the rest of the world via international shipping routes.
In the 20th century these shipping routes facilitated the distribution of one of the Middle East’s most famous exports: crude oil. The revenues generated through the export of crude oil are clearly proven in the striking architecture and rich economies of Doha and Saudi Arabia.
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from Cairo to Doha
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