In the image over, dense vegetation (mainly Phragmites reeds) appears as dark red patches, while red patches along river banks are date palms. By 2000 most of the Central Marshes appear as olive to greyish-brown patches indicating low vegetation on moist to dry ground

Compilation: Hassan Partow, UNEP Division of Early Warning and Assessment

Satellite images: USGS/EROS Data Center

Photograph: Nik Wheeler