1. Earthshots
  2. Sydney, Australia
Description

Sydney, Australia, is a growing cosmopolitan city. Besides its recent growth, however, these images show that Sydney takes advantage of the natural beauty of its mountains and harbours.

Except for the shoreline to the east, Sydney is surrounded by green on all sides. The deep green south of Sydney includes national parks, recreation areas, and a military reserve. These areas prevent urban development from moving that direction. Royal National Park is located along the coast of the Tasman Sea just south of Sydney.

Over the past several decades, Sydney’s expansion has been mostly westward, toward the Blue Mountains.

 

Fact: Australia is the 6th largest country in the world. But it has the 3rd lowest population density with just under 3 people per square kilometer. About one-fifth of the country’s population lives in Sydney.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

Oct. 12, 1975, Landsat 2 (path/row 95/84) — Sydney, Australia

Oct. 12, 1975, Landsat 2 (path/row 95/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 6, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 6, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 12, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 12, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 18, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 18, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 3, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sept. 3, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Oct. 12, 1975, Landsat 2 (path/row 95/84) — Sydney, Australia
Sept. 6, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia
Sept. 12, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia
Sept. 18, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia
Sept. 3, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 89/84) — Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia Additional Imagery & Stories

Botany Bay
Botany Bay

The other major natural harbour on the south end of these images is Botany Bay. The runways of Sydney Airport stretch into the bay. The main north-sou...

Harbours
Harbours

Sydney Harbour defines the city and makes it recognizable worldwide. Parks, reserves, and gardens line the 240 kilometers of shoreline of this beautif...

Penrith Lakes
Penrith Lakes

A feature west of Sydney changes shape and color throughout these four images, indicating constant change in that location. This area, which covers ab...

Western Side
Western Side

Urban growth in Sydney is seen on its western side. The light greens and purples in this sequence of images are residential and retail areas, and they...

References

References (Earthshot Overview/Parent Only)

Australian Government, 2008, Sydney Harbour Bridge: Australian Government Web page at http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/sydney-harbour-bridge. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Australian Government, 2008, Sydney Opera House: Australian Government Web page at http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/sydney-opera-house. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Australian National Construction Review, [n.d.], Port Botany Expansion: Australian National Construction Review, accessed May 4, 2018, at http://www.ancr.com.au/port_botany_expansion.pdf.

City of Sydney, [n.d.], Metropolitan Sydney: City of Sydney Web page at http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/about-sydney/metropolitan-sydney. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

NASA, 2002, Sydney, Australia: NASA Earth Observatory Web page at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=2539. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

NASA, 2000, Sydney, Australia—Home of the 2000 Olympics: NASA Earth Observatory Web page at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=825. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

NASA, 2004, Botany Bay, New South Wales: NASA Earth Observatory Web page at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=5007. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Net Resources International, 2012, Port Botany Expansion, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: ship-technology.com Web page at http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/port-botany-expansion-sydney-new-south-wales/. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Penrith Lakes, 2018, Penrith Lakes—A Destination to Live, Work, Shop, Play and Retreat into Nature: Penrith Lakes, accessed April 27, 2018, at http://penrithlakes.com.au/home.

Penrith Lakes Development Corporation, [n.d.], The Penrith Lakes Scheme: Penrith Lakes Development Corporation Web page at http://www.penritlake-e.schools.nsw.edu.au/Lakes_Scheme.html. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Port Botany, 2013, Port Botany Expansion: NSW Ports web page at http://www.nswportsbotany.com.au/projects-and-planning/port-botany-expansion/. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Sydney Airport, 2011, Sydney Airport—An Overview: Sydney Airport Web page at https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/corporate/about/reports-and-publications/fact-sheets. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Sydney Catchment Authority, [n.d.], Prospect Reservoir: NSW Government Web page at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5045336. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Sydney Online, 2013, The Harbour, Sydney: Sydney Online Web page at http://www.sydney.com.au/harbour.htm. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

WestLink M7, 2008, WestLink M7 Background: WestLink M7 Web page at https://www.roam.com.au/using-westlink-m7. (Accessed November 15, 2013.)

Worldatlas, 2012, Countries of the World: Worldatlas Web page at