Description

DESERTS – Landscapes of Extremes

Authors: M. Eisl, G. Mansberger

All through the history, Earth’s deserts have stimulated man’s fantasy. Their repellent landscapes show a type of exotic that for many people directly leads to a wish to travel and to experience adventures.

The new coffee table book “WÜSTEN – Lebensraum der Extreme” (in German language) shows the fascinating diversity of desert landscapes in their different types. Up-to-date double-page satellite images give an impression of the dunes of the sand seas, of the endless widths of salt deserts and of rocky landscapes. The images show in which ways man adapts to this hostile environment and which tracks his activities leave in the deserts.

The tour starts presenting the wealth of forms and colours of desert landscapes, revealing the history and processes that have shaped them. The specific conditions lacking water and exhibiting extreme temperatures are mirrored in the settlements and cities, ranging from small villages in oases to the current metropoles such as Dubai. Other sections treat the structures of agriculture and of the production and transport of raw materials. The book closes with examples of world heritage sites, which show the value of these landscapes.

Short image captions (in German) describe the detailed, brilliant images made by the best satellites currently available. Contributions from experts provide insight into specific issues related to deserts, such as the dynamics of these landscapes and ideas for a better use of the available water resources.

With the currently evolving global warming the coffee table book “Wüsten” provides an impression of the enormous cost of living in such a hostile enviroment.

This book was produced in cooperation with Digital Globe and European Space Imaging.