Every World Cup Country, Seen in Beautiful Images From Space
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Brazil
Group A
Look closely and you will see the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha near the center of this image taken by NASA's EO-1 satellite in August 2001. Photo: NASA/USGS
Group A
Look closely and you will see the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha near the center of this image taken by NASA's EO-1 satellite in August 2001.
Croatia
Group A
The heart-shaped island of Galešnjak can be seen off the Croatian coast in this image taken by Japan's Earth observation satellite ALOS in March 2010. Photo: JAXA/ESA
Group A
The heart-shaped island of Galešnjak can be seen off the Croatian coast in this image taken by Japan's Earth observation satellite ALOS in March 2010.
Cameroon
Group A
Sun glint brightens Lake Mbakaou in this image taken in December 2003 by an astronaut on the International Space Station. Photo: NASA
Group A
Sun glint brightens Lake Mbakaou in this image taken in December 2003 by an astronaut on the International Space Station.
Mexico
Group A
A dust plume from a rockfall on Colima Volcano can be seen in this photo taken by NASA's EO-1 satellite in January 2010 Photo: NASA
Group A
A dust plume from a rockfall on Colima Volcano can be seen in this photo taken by NASA's EO-1 satellite in January 2010
The Netherlands
Group B
The dikes protecting The Netherland's southern coast can be seen in this photo taken by NASA's Terra satellite in September 2002. Photo: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS/ASTER Science Team
Group B
The dikes protecting The Netherland's southern coast can be seen in this photo taken by NASA's Terra satellite in September 2002.
Spain
Group B
Barcelona is a sea of red roofs this photo taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in December 2006. Photo: NASA
Group B
Barcelona is a sea of red roofs this photo taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in December 2006.
Australia
Group B
This image of salt-encrusted Lake Dundas was taken in November 2011 by NASA's EO-1 satellite.
Photo: NASA
Group B
This image of salt-encrusted Lake Dundas was taken in November 2011 by NASA's EO-1 satellite.
Chile
Group B
San Quintín Glacier, shown here in an image taken by the Destiny module on the International Space Station on June 14, is the largest glacier in Chile's Northern Patagonia Icefield. Photo: NASA
Group B
San Quintín Glacier, shown here in an image taken by the Destiny module on the International Space Station on June 14, is the largest glacier in Chile's Northern Patagonia Icefield.
Japan
Group C
Mount Tara looks like an emerald gem in this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in January 2008.
Photo: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS/ASTER Science Team
Group C
Mount Tara looks like an emerald gem in this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in January 2008.
Greece
Group C
The Acropolis sits on a hill near the center of this image of Athens taken by NASA's EO-1 satellite in July 2004. Photo: NASA
Group C
The Acropolis sits on a hill near the center of this image of Athens taken by NASA's EO-1 satellite in July 2004.
Colombia
Group C
This image of Galeras Volcano was taken with UAVSAR radar, which can penetrate tree cover, on a NASA Gulfstream C-20A aircraft in March 2013. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech UAVSAR
Group C
This image of Galeras Volcano was taken with UAVSAR radar, which can penetrate tree cover, on a NASA Gulfstream C-20A aircraft in March 2013.
Ivory Coast
Group C
This image of the Ivory Coast was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in November 2008. Photo: NASA
Group C
This image of the Ivory Coast was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in November 2008.
Italy
Group D
This image of Venice was taken by Digital Globe's Ikonos satellite in 2001. Photo: Robert Simmon/NASA/Digital Globe
Group D
This image of Venice was taken by Digital Globe's Ikonos satellite in 2001.
England
Group D
The Thames looks like a purple snake in this false-color image of London taken by NASA's Terra satellite in October 2001.
Photo: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS/ASTER Science Team
Group D
The Thames looks like a purple snake in this false-color image of London taken by NASA's Terra satellite in October 2001.
Costa Rica
Group D
A plume of volcanic gas can be faintly seen above Turrialba Volcano in this image taken by NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite in January 2010.
Photo: Robert Simmon/NASA
Group D
A plume of volcanic gas can be faintly seen above Turrialba Volcano in this image taken by NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite in January 2010.
Uruguay
Group D
This image of Montevideo was taken by Landsat 5 in August 2011. Photo: USGS/Wikimedia commons
Group D
This image of Montevideo was taken by Landsat 5 in August 2011.
Ecuador
Group E
Shrimp farms show up as blue rectangles in this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in March 2006. Photo: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS/ASTER Science Team
Group E
Shrimp farms show up as blue rectangles in this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in March 2006.
France
Group E
A phytoplankton bloom hovers off the coast of France in this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in June 2003. Photo: NASA
Group E
A phytoplankton bloom hovers off the coast of France in this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in June 2003.
Honduras
Group E
Mangroves, wetlands and shrimp farms abound in this image taken by Landsat 5 in January 1999. Photo: NASA/USGS
Group E
Mangroves, wetlands and shrimp farms abound in this image taken by Landsat 5 in January 1999.
Switzerland
Group E
The Rhone Glacier can be seen near the middle of this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in August 2001. Photo: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS/ASTER Science Team
Group E
The Rhone Glacier can be seen near the middle of this image taken by NASA's Terra satellite in August 2001.
Argentina
Group F
Abandoned channels weave across the Paraná River floodplain in this image taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in April 2011. Photo: NASA
Group F
Abandoned channels weave across the Paraná River floodplain in this image taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in April 2011.
Iran
Group F
This false-color image of the Dasht-e Kevir desert was made using infrared, green, and red wavelengths from Landsat 7 data taken in October 2000. Photo: NASA/USGS
Group F
This false-color image of the Dasht-e Kevir desert was made using infrared, green, and red wavelengths from Landsat 7 data taken in October 2000.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group F
This shot of cola mines in the Tuzla Basin was taken by NASA's Terra satellite in September 2003. Photo: Amer Smailbegovic/NASA
Group F
This shot of cola mines in the Tuzla Basin was taken by NASA's Terra satellite in September 2003.
Nigeria
Group F
The Niger delta is shrouded in wispy clouds in this image taken by ESA's Envisat satellite in February 2008. Photo: ESA
Group F
The Niger delta is shrouded in wispy clouds in this image taken by ESA's Envisat satellite in February 2008.
Germany
Group G
In this shot of an agricultural area taken by the Terra satellite in August 2000, crops appear bright green, forest is dark green, soil is grey. Photo: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS/ASTER Science Team
Group G
In this shot of an agricultural area taken by the Terra satellite in August 2000, crops appear bright green, forest is dark green, soil is grey.
United States
Group G
The lowest point in the country is visible near the light blue splotch in this composite, pseudo-natural color image of Death Valley taken by Landsat 7 in June and July 2000. Photo: NASA
Group G
The lowest point in the country is visible near the light blue splotch in this composite, pseudo-natural color image of Death Valley taken by Landsat 7 in June and July 2000.
Portugal
Group G
This nighttime image of Porto (left) and Vila Nova de Gaia (right) on either side of the Douro River was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in April 2012. Photo: NASA
Group G
This nighttime image of Porto (left) and Vila Nova de Gaia (right) on either side of the Douro River was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in April 2012.
Ghana
Group G
The Songor Lagoon, shown here in an image taken in 2000 by a Landsat satellite, is an important stop-over for migratory birds. Photo: NASA
Group G
The Songor Lagoon, shown here in an image taken in 2000 by a Landsat satellite, is an important stop-over for migratory birds.
Algeria
Group H
The 2-mile-wide Qarkziz impact crater, created around 70 million years ago, is in the center of this image taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in April 2012. Photo: NASA
Group H
The 2-mile-wide Qarkziz impact crater, created around 70 million years ago, is in the center of this image taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in April 2012.
Russia
Group H
The Lena River delta, shown here in an image taken by Landsat 7 in July 2001, is an intricate maze of channels. Photo: USGS
Group H
The Lena River delta, shown here in an image taken by Landsat 7 in July 2001, is an intricate maze of channels.
Belgium
Group H
This image of Bruge was taken by Landsat 7 in May 2001. Photo: NASA/USGS
Group H
This image of Bruge was taken by Landsat 7 in May 2001.
South Korea
Group H
This image of Phang on South Korea's east coast was taken in July 2009 by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. Photo: NASA
Group H
This image of Phang on South Korea's east coast was taken in July 2009 by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.
SIMILAR GALLERIES
Watching the various playing styles of different countries in the World Cup this year got me thinking about all the things that influence how each team plays the game. Culture is certainly a big one, genetics is another. But what about the terrain? Do countries dominated by deserts play differently than those that are lush with rain forests? Could a mountainous countryside be more conducive to, say, a focus on offense while a long coastline might foster defensive strength?
Maybe not, but the variety of landscapes represented in the tournament this year is impressive, and the contrast between the homelands of the two teams on the field at any given time is often immense. Here is a look from space at the beautiful range of land forms in the 32 countries playing the beautiful game.
This image of barrier islands off the coast of Brazil was taken by Landsat 5 in June 2006. 
NASA/USGS