20+ Shots From Above That Can Make You Wish You Could Fly

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The first aerial image on Earth was taken by French photographer and balloonist, Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, over 150 years ago in Paris. In 2020, Depositphotos is featuring hundreds of contributors from around the world who are pushing the boundaries of aerial photography.

We’ve compiled a collection of top aerial photographs to make you feel like a bird that’s traveling around the world without any visas or suitcases. Feel this incredible lightness, let it energize you, and allow it to give you your daily dose of inspiration.

2,500 years ago, a powerful volcanic eruption occurred near Lake Myvatn (Iceland). The Hverfjall Crater is just over half a mile in diameter. You will not find any animals or plants here, only heavy volcanic sand forming a bizarre relief.

This salt production complex in Namibia attracts not only international investors but also tourists. The vast plateaus and rich geology of this region allow local businesses to mine salt in open air. Walvis Bay is the country’s main port where ships arrive daily for salt and diamonds. Unlike the salt production region, the Diamond Valley, which lies south of the city, is closed to visitors.

The Great Kemeri Bog is located near the national park in the Jurmala region (Latvia). It’s a swampy area in which soil is rich in sulfur, so only pine and birch can survive here. However, in spring and late summer, the Great Kemeri Bog comes to life with migratory birds.

The Kaunas Reservoir is the largest Lithuanian artificial lake that occupies about 0.1% of the county’s territory. Its beaches are popular among locals during the short summer season. Here, they can ride a small yacht or do extreme water sports. For most of the winter, this reservoir is frozen.

Why not swim in the Swiss river, Sense? This rough river attracts whitewater athletes as well as brave mountain stream swimmers. Since the river comes from Mount Gantrisch, tourists are prohibited from staying near the coast in rainy weather since the river level rises quickly and can easily wash you away.

Ronda is a picturesque town in the Andalusia region (Spain) that looks like it was carved out of a rock. Although this city is 1,000 years old, it’s quite comfortable for a modern person. The Spanish sun, terraces, and a deep canyon with crystal clear waters — what else would a twenty-first-century hedonist need?

The first settlements appeared on the West Pacific Coast 120,000 years ago. A lot has changed since then, but a few things have remained the same. For example, dense forests, picturesque cliffs, and an indomitable ocean can still be seen here.

The Salt Mines (ponds) of Maras is one of the largest salt mining sites in the world, founded 1,000 years ago. Here, you’ll find 6,000 ponds in total. The ponds were built in the Peruvian Andes, and the top of the manufactory overlooks the Sacred Valley. The famous Inca pyramids are also situated nearby.

In the Romanian region, Dobrogea, the Danube River flows into the Black Sea. Its thousands of plant species, hundreds of fishing villages, and close proximity to the main port city of the Constanta region are what appeal to many photographers.

The 3 Rondavels are the icons of the third largest canyon in the world, which is situated in Mpumalanga (South Africa). This geological miracle was formed by soil erosion. Today, these mountains resemble a national South African hut known as a rondavel. See the 3 Rondavels from a more natural perspective as you travel the Panorama Route, which runs through the Blyde River Canyon.

The Australian Shark Bay was discovered back in the seventeenth century by a Dutch navigator. Despite the fact that it was called lifeless and dismal, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit this bay every year. Where did the name Shark Bay come from, you ask? According to one of the legends, the first seafarers who entered the bay caught a giant shark here, which they then ate. Up to 10 shark species can also be found here.

The Stelvio Pass is a huge and picturesque alpine pass in Italia. This paved road runs through the Stelvio National Park and is famous for hosting cycling competitions with over 12,000 cyclists annually. A surprising fact: this pass was built during the time of the Austrian Empire and has remained in perfect technical condition since then.

Several years ago, the Cliffs of Moher (Ireland) was named one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. They are also considered to be the most popular tourist attraction in the country. In addition, these cliffs are real stars in the art world: you can see them on the cover of the No Line on the Horizon album by U2, as well as in Harry Potter movies.

This breathtaking natural photography collection would be incomplete without images from Norway. The Rauma is a relatively short mountain river that runs through a valley, but that doesn’t prevent it from being a place of pilgrimage for photographers. The main reason for this is its dozens of picturesque waterfalls and the Trolls’ Path, a famous serpentine mountain road built in steep stone.

Endless vineyards on the hills, the scent of flowers, and gorgeous ancient estates — if you’re tired of Florence with its Renaissance architecture, spend the night in one of the Tuscan villages.

Bird’s-eye view photography makes us dream. And it also helps us see our planet from a new perspective and notice what previously seemed insignificant. For example, the large-scale consequences of global warming (melted glaciers), as well as ash at the site of massive forest fires, can now be viewed by just about anyone.

Depositphotos believes that aerial nature photography will motivate us to care more about the beautiful planet we live on. For more inspiration, check out our full collection of photos taken from above.