In the desert of southern Kuwait, three oil fields spread out across the empty landscape. The country has the world's fifth largest oil reserves, and the 2.8 million people live in the eleventh richest country in the world. The massive oil reserves were discovered in the 1930s, after the country had emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. The image was acquired September 27, 2009, covers an area of 30 x 54 km, and is located at 28.8 degrees north latitude, 47.8 degrees east longitude.
Photo credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
