According to geologists, the patterns result from the gentle folding of numerous, thin, light and dark layers of rock. The lack of soil and vegetation allows the geological structure of the rocks to appear quite clearly. 'As the International Space Station passed over the deserts of central Iran, including Kavir, one of the Expedition 38 crew members used a digital camera equipped with a 200mm lens to record this image featuring an unusual pattern of numerous parallel lines and sweeping curves. Almost fluid-like, these sights are actually rock formations and the results of erosion too: The views of the deserts of Iran from space show some fascinating patterns in the surface below. What you're seeing here isn't weather patterns, but actually rock formations and the results of erosion. Interestingly, glacial erosion features can be seen throughout the grey summit zone area-showing that an ice cap hundreds of times larger than the snow cap existed during the geologically recent ice ages. The summits are so high that trees cannot grow-landscapes appear grey because only grass and small shrubs can survive the cold.

The highest of these (approximately 5700 m, 18,700 feet), named for Christopher Columbus, is so high that it supports a small but permanent snow cap (image far left), even though it lies only ten degrees north of the Equator. 'This early morning image, taken by astronauts looking from the International Space Station, shows a dramatic view of the many peaks of Colombia's Santa Marta massif. This photo of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta was taken from 215 miles above: Somehow these giant landmasses appear insignificant when seen from this view and yet they are some of the tallest and most impressive sights our Earth has to offer. Mountain ranges make for a regularly popular image of our world as captured by those orbiting above.

View of earth from space