414 photos
Tajikistan is embedded in the mountains of Central Asia. The extended glaciers are an important source of water in the arid country which connects elements of Islamic and former Soviet cultural systems.
The largest of all continents offers a broad range of natural conditions: arctic to tropical, arid to humid, large plains and the highest mountains of the world. The cultures of China and India, the two most populous countries worldwide, contrast to Islamic lifestyles as well as with Soviet and Western influences.
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Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
49 photos
Most of the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan consists of vast steppes, whereas Kyrgyzstan is shaped by the extended mountain ranges of the Tien Shan. Almaty, Astana, and Bishkek have developed to vivid and prosperous cities amidst sparsely populated terrain.
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The Emirates and Qatar
62 photos
These countries occupy part of the northeast coast of the Arab Peninsula, the shore of the Persian Gulf. Their territory is largely covered by deserts, whereas prosperous cities such as Dubai or Doha have developed along the coastline.
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Mongolia
142 photos
Located between China and Russia, Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries worldwide. Whereas much of the population concentrates in the capital city Ulaan Baatar, the rest of the country is characterized by vast steppes and deserts.
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Nepal
198 photos
Over a north-south distance of less than 200 km, the culturally rich country between India and Tibet extends over a vertical distance of more than 8500 m between the lowlands of the Terai and the world's highest mountains in the Himalayas.
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People's Republic of China
187 photos
The most populous country in the world is characterized by millenia of history but, most recently, also by rapid economic development. Vast cities in the east and south stand in sharp contrast to extensive deserts and mountain ranges in the west.
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India
181 photos
Representing one of the most populous countries in the world, India is characterized by a broad and colourful diversity of people, languages, and religions. They evolute in a huge area between the towering mountains of the Himalaya in the north and the tropical coasts of the south.
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Malaysia
75 photos
This tropical country occupies the southernmost tip of the Asian mainland as well as part of the island of Borneo. The highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, hosts highly specialized ecosystems whereas the capital Kuala Lumpur experiences a rapid urban development.
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Sri Lanka
139 photos
This tropical island southeast of India is inhabited by the Sinhalese and Tamil peoples. A small central highland is surrounded by plains wich lead down to the mangrove coasts and urban places spreading along the Indian Ocean.
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Singapore
45 photos
The city state on an island just south of Malaysia is the major centre of finance and commerce in Southeast Asia. But it is also a melting pot for people of various cultures and religions, with the consequence of a highly diversified urban landscape.
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Asia from the air
40 photos
This album collects a set of aerial views depicting various scenes throughout central and southwestern Asia, including the mountains and deserts of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.