Here's the big picture, and it's looking good: satellite photos showing what the southern tip of Africa looks like from outer space.

A composite satellite image of South Africa, taken from Nasa's Visible Earth in November 2002.

The southern Cape from space, with the curve of the earth behind. Port Elizabeth is 785 kilometres from Cape Town. Cape Agulhas is the southern-most point of Africa.

So much for humanity's glory. Cape Town and surrounding towns from space, but not a single building or road to be seen. (A) is Cape Town, (B) Simonstown, (C) Hermanus and (D) Paarl.

A perspective satellite image taken by Landsat in February 2000, showing Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope. The city centre lies in Table Bay, at lower left, next to Table Mountain. The perspective is computer generated, combining a photograph with elevation data collected by radar. (Source: Nasa Visible Earth)

This 2002 image shows the Mbashe River in the Eastern Cape, which winds through a gorge separating the Cwebe and Dwesa Nature Reserves. (Source: Nasa Gateway to Astronaut Photography)

The massive Drakensberg, the highest mountain range south of Kilimanjaro, with smoke from forest fires. (Source: Nasa Gateway to Astronaut Photography)

The estuary of the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, one of South Africa's seven world heritage sites, in northern KwaZulu-Natal. (Source: Wikipedia)

Another world heritage site: the Vredefort Dome in the Free State is the oldest and largest visible meteor impact site on earth. (Source: Nasa Visible Earth)

A view along the South African coastline, looking east, with the Cape peninsula in the background. (Source: Nasa Gateway to Astronaut Photography)

SouthAfrica.info reporter

	The rising sun glints off the ocean at the southern tip of Africa, with the curve of the earth behind it (Image: Nasa Gateway to Astronaut Photography)

	Here's where you'll find us ... the southern tip of Africa, where two oceans meet

	South Africa's geography West & South: the Cape provinces Northeastern South Africa North & North-West South Africa Eastern South Africa Central South Africa

SA WORLD HERITAGE SITES World Heritage in South Africa Cape Floral Region Cradle of Humankind Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape Robben Island Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park Vredefort Dome

Coastline gallery Take a photographic trip along SA's varied seashores, from the cold Atlantic of the Northern Cape to the scuba diver's paradise of Sodwana Bay.

Mountains & rivers South Africa is big sky country, with vast mountain ranges falling into lush river valleys. Take a photo tour of our more dramatic scenery.

Countryside gallery Step out of the urban centres and you'll find a different South Africa. Take a photo tour of the country's remote and unexplored rural areas.

National Parks Kgalagadi's desert, Tsitsikamma's forest, Kruger's wildlife ... take a photo tour of South Africa's National Parks.