Amazing shot shows Saudi Arabia greening the desert

According to the firm, the shot (below) is of three kilometre circular fields supported by central pivot irrigation.

Water is "mined" from ancient rivers deep below the desert to the surface, and distributed by irrigation. The firm reckons Saudi Arabia is close to self sufficiency in agriculture, with land under cultivation rising from 400,000 acres in 1976 to over eight million acres today.

Qinetiq owns the satellite but is partners with Rutherford Appleton Labs, Surrey Satellite Technology and Infoterra. µ