How water shapes our world

... stunning series of photographs captures rivers and oceans from above

A jaw dropping series of images has given a new view of Earth, and the power of water to shape it.

Called Water.Shapes.Earth, the project by photographer Milan Radisics captures images of water from directly above.

The incredible series of image is the brainchild of Milan Radisics, who says the project 'turns the meandering waterways all over the world into amazing visuals on the border between abstract and documentary.'

Low tide reveals a muddy riverbed of fishbone shaped streams in the middle of a small, but unique part of the salt marsh located at the end of the Betanzos Estuary, near Coruna in northern Spain. These natural formations could have been influenced by manmade fishponds that covered the area centuries ago. Until the 18th century the port of Betanzos was one of the most important fishing and trade centre of the ancient Kingdom of Galicia. But the river sediment that filled the estuary and reduced its depth was one cause, among others, for the decrease in sea traffic. Nowadays, the lower part forms an extensive and productive territory traditionally used for shellfishing and fishing. The marshy upriver portion is popular for eco-tourism, and sailing. The estuary of Betanzos is one of the four largest salt marshes on the coast of Galicia. Currently it is the largest coastal mudflat amongst them, formed by the confluence of the Mendo and Mandeo rivers. The riverbanks are a nature reserve covering 25 kilometres upriver.

'Water makes up the majority of the Earth, shaping the planet and its life in plenty of ways,' he says.

'When seen from above, waterways can create stunning unseen images that tell stories of our home planet.'

The team also created a full online story around the images, which can be seen here.

Yellow sediments delivered from farmland by small streams mix with the vivid blue ocean among the rustic islands created by lava flows in Southern Iceland, near the town of Stokkseyri.The Bjórsárum, in South Iceland, is the world’s greatest lava flow covering 975 square km. After the volcanic eruption, 9000 years ago, the lava flowed 140 km from the Icelandic highlands towards the sea, only stopped by the cold Atlantic Ocean. Now, along the the 20 km long coastline between Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki, from above we can appreciate colourful mash-ups made by small grass-covered islands, river sediments and ocean waves.

Colorful grasses and swirling tidal channels on one of the 62 small islands in salt marsh of Lagoon Venice which is the largest wetland in the Mediterranean Basin, Venice, Area Lio Piccolo, Italy. The salt marches are amongst the most productive ecosystems in the world, because the tidal flooding – in just the right amounts – brings moisture, nutrients and dissolved oxygen. These all help marsh plants to grow abundant leaves and robust roots. This is how they protect our shores and provide the homes for abundant wildlife and colorful flora, that can tolerate being periodically flooded by salty tidal waters. Venice requires this protection due to constant human presence. Settlements, overwhelming tourist traffic, industrial developments, public transport by water-buses, so called Vaporettos, as well as many private yachts and boats endanger both the islands, and the marshes. Continuously, new plans for ambitious dam systems are drawn up, only to be set aside sooner or later.