SPACEPHOTOS

The tans and light browns of a desert environment provide a striking background for the setting of the dynamic, year-round resort and rapidly growing city of Las Vegas (approximate population of 750 000). Because clear atmosphere with low humidity exists, this near-vertical photograph reveals much Las Vegas urban infrastructure—the V-shaped runways of McCarran International Airport near the center of the photograph (along the southern edge of the city); numerous golf course fairways (dark, linear features) contrasting sharply with the nonvegetated land; the street network within the city (even famous Las Vegas Boulevard, the Strip, with the well-known resort hotels); major highways that connect Las Vegas with surrounding states; and Nellis Air Force Base runways barely visible northeast of the city. Because of a lack of vegetation, several drainage patterns are very pronounced, especially the fan-shaped lighter area north of the city. The eastern side of the photograph shows the Las Vegas Wash, which is an extension of Las Vegas Bay (part of Lake Mead) that be seen gradually curving around a hilly area east of the city. Because it provides much detailed information, this type of photography is especially useful for urban and regional planners in monitoring and mapping changes to the physical landscape.