The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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One of Russia’s largest reservoirs, the Tsimlyansk, is highlighted in this Envisat image acquired on 27 September 2008 over southern Russia. The reservoir is located at the great bend of the Don River near the town of Tsimlyansk in the province of Rostov. Many agricultural crops can be seen growing along the river, including wheat, rice, cotton, alfalfa, grapes and other fruits and vegetables. The darker brown areas around the reservoir indicate where crops have already been harvested. Earth observation satellites are used in agricultural monitoring for mapping and classifying land use, crop type, crop health, change detection, irrigated landscape mapping and crop area mapping.