Spectacular views of the Spanish landscape

Mount Tiede, Tenerife (courtesy of NASAJSC).

An institution that makes me consistently proud to be British is the wonderful Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) which has just produced a fascinating portrait of Spain as part of their new and quite extraordinary Hidden Journeys series.  If you like spectacular views of the Spanish landscape – then you really must have a look at what the RGS/IBG has just produced.  It is a marvel!

In a groundbreaking way of showing world landscape, culture and history the RGS have produced a series of stunning images along a real air plane flight path that extends from Madrid in Spain to Rio de Janerio in Brazil.  The images concentrate upon Madrid itself, the lovely city of Seville and the Canary Islands – before providing further fascinating views of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Equator, and the Brazilian urban areas of Pernambuco, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.

Of course, the first thing you are likely to ask is: what on earth (pun intended!) is there to see from a flight path – particularly of the Mid-Atlantic ridge or the Equator?

Well, the RGS/IBG display their images based upon three different heights, based upon what you would see from around 10,000m and then 2,000m and finally at ground level or below sea level (as appropriate) with the images accompanied by succinct explanations.  The latter describe the history and importance of what is shown and place the images in their historical, cultural and geographical context.

Olive groves south of Madrid (© Lars Plougmann).

Did you know, for example, that Mount Teide in the Canary Islands is the third highest volcano in the world at 3718m or that the Guadalquivir Basin (around Seville) drains an area almost twice the size of Belgium? Or that Seville cathedral is the third largest cathedral in the world (and has unique Gothic architecture?  Or that Barajas airport in Madrid handles some 50 million passengers a year and has the largest terminal space in the world?

In fact, the RGS-IBG’s Hidden Journeys flight from Madrid (the highest capital in the EU!) is packed full of interesting information together with (at ground level!) images and details about the culture of Spain and the other countries and areas ‘flown’ over.

I think what I particularly liked was the feel of perspective that the RGS-IBG’s Madrid to Rio ‘flight’ provides and this is the idea behind the Hidden Journeys project – to help us all appreciate the fascinating world we live in and the huge (and often startling) geographic and cultural changes between one part of the world and another.

Madrid (courtesy of NASAASTER).

Certainly, I cannot think of a better way of illustrating differences around the world than taking a flight path between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and making that journey visually interesting – in a way that it never is from inside an air plane flying at 10,000m.  At that height even the most impressive volcano, city or landscape is reduced with any meaningful scale lost, along with any historical or cultural relevance.

Meanwhile, when flying across the sea how is one ever to know about the existence of white carbonite spires or hydrothermal vents or what deep sea jellyfish look like – let alone the constantly evolving nature of the dramatic Mid Atlantic Ridge?

Needless to say, I am biased about what the Hidden Journeys flight path shows about Spain – with seeing the sheer expanse of the country and the spectacular views of the Spanish landscape a real joy.  There is also something irresistible about seeing either the city of Seville or Madrid from 10,000m and then being able to zoom down to see the detail of individual buildings and streets.  Great fun!

Aerial view of Seville (courtesy of GeoEye).

So, if you are interested in seeing the world from a different and very original perspective then do have a look at Hidden Journeys by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).  If you are living in Spain and on the rough flight path from Madrid to Rio de Janeiro then you may be able to see your own property and have a great multi-layered view of everything around it.

Santa Cruz, Tenerife from the air (© Tony Hisgett)

Equally, if you are planning on having a holiday in Spain anywhere between Madrid, Seville and the Canary Islands then you will have a perfect opportunity to see what is on offer – whilst being able to enthuse about the trip ahead.  Just think what your children will make of it!

Nick Snelling – Culture Spain

 RELEVANT INFORMATION

Hidden Journeys (Explore the world from the air) by the Royal Geographical Society (with IGB)