Satellites showed an increase in the territory of Bahrain

The presented pair of images were taken by Landsat satellites with a difference of exactly 35 years. It demonstrates the growth of the territory of Bahrain, a state located on the territory of the island of the same name in the Persian Gulf.

Satellite image of Bahrain taken in 2022. Source: NASA
Satellite image of Bahrain taken in 2022. Source: NASA

In 1987, when the first picture was taken, the population of Bahrain was about 400 thousand people. By 2022, it has increased to one and a half million people. The rapid increase in population density and the spread of urban development, multiplied by the shortage of land, pushed the country’s authorities to invest in projects to drain coastal areas and create artificial islands. Thanks to them, the area of Bahrain has increased from 665 to 780 km2.

Comparison of satellite images of Bahrain taken in 1987 and 2022. Source: NASA

If we compare the two images, the changes are most pronounced in the north of the country. Shallow water contributed to the creation of alluvial territories and the expansion of the area of existing islands. Muharraq Island, which used to be the capital of Bahrain, has grown the most. The changes in the south are not so radical, but still, the change in the coastline is clearly noticeable. You can also pay attention to the artificial archipelago of Durrat al Bahrain. It was raised to zero.

Satellite image of Bahrain taken in 1987. Source: NASA
Satellite image of Bahrain taken in 2022. Source: NASA

The satellite images also captured the King Fahd Bridge, a complex of bridges and dams with a total length of 25 km connecting Bahrain with Saudi Arabia. A bridge project was also developed that would connect the island with Qatar. However, its implementation was stopped due to the crisis that led to the rupture of diplomatic relations between the countries in 2017.

You can also admire the amazing photo of our planet taken by astronaut Don Pettit from the ISS.

According to https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

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