< ISS020-E-9011 >

Browse image
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 697 pixels 540 x 376 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4288 x 2929 pixels 640 x 437 pixels
Cloud masks available for this image:
Binary Heatmap

Spacecraft nadir point: 36.9° N, 131.1° E

Photo center point: 36.0° N, 129.4° E

Photo center point by machine learning:

Nadir to Photo Center: Southwest

Spacecraft Altitude: 184 nautical miles (341km)
Click for a map
Width Height Annotated Cropped Purpose Links
1000 pixels 697 pixels No Yes Earth From Space collection Download Image
540 pixels 376 pixels Yes Yes Earth From Space collection Download Image
720 pixels 480 pixels Yes Yes NASA's Earth Observatory web site Download Image
4288 pixels 2929 pixels No No Download Image
640 pixels 437 pixels No No Download Image
Other options available:
Download Packaged File
Download a Google Earth KML for this Image
View photo footprint information
No GeoTIFF is available for this photo.
Image Caption: Pohang, South Korea

The port city of Pohang is located on the eastern coastline of South Korea and provides access to the East Sea and Sea of Japan. In this astronaut photo from June 12, 2009, the urban fabric of Pohang is strikingly divided by the Hyeongsan River. To the west of the river, residential and commercial development is characterized by small-footprint, gray- and white-roofed buildings connected by a dense road network.

The eastern side of the river is dominated by industrial development associated with the Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) steelyard. This development (image center) includes large factory and storage buildings with striking light blue and light red rooftop. Green vegetated hills and mountains border the urban area to the east, west, and south, and several vegetated hills remain within the industrial area. Numerous boat wakes are also visible to the east-northeast of the POSCO steelyard docks.

While the Pohang area has been occupied by small fishing villages since approximately 1500 BC, development of an urban area only began in 1930 when harbor facilities were constructed. POSCO began construction of a large steel mill and associated facilities in 1968, with production of steel products commencing in 1972. The steel industry is still a major component of the city's economic base, but recent efforts to lessen dependance on heavy industry has fostered new interest in environmentalism and culture within Pohang.