The lay of the land, or topography, helps determine what sort of plants and animals╤and human settlements╤thrive in a given region. Areas with different elevations usually have different climates, and major geological features such as oceans serve as natural boundaries.
This 3D model of Earth was compiled from a variety of sources, including satellite measurements of elevations, ground-based maps, and nautical charts. The color key on the left will help you determine the altitude, and the zoom buttons afford you a better look at the surface.
You will find that some of our planet's tallest mountains lie partly underwater. For instance, the island of Mauna Kea in Hawaii is actually the roof of a tremendous volcano rising six miles from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Also, be sure to examine the ridges beneath the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, where new sea floor is continuously being created and destroyed by the Earth's molten interior. And don't miss the contrast between the Andes mountains and the nearby ocean trench, where the Pacific tectonic plate is diving below the South American plate.
⌐ 1996 Planetary Visions Ltd.
Sources: USGS EROS Data Center
NOAA National Geophysical Data Centre
Digital Chart of the World (Defense Mapping Agency)
