Earth from space: Wall of haze gets trapped behind mountains near 'Throne of Solomon' in Pakistan

A satellite photo of a wall of haze and cloud trapped behind a mountain range
A wall of haze, cloud and mist gets trapped behind a section of the Sulaiman Mountains in Pakistan. (Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory/ISS program)
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Where is it? The Sulaiman Mountains, in Pakistan [31.42234772, 69.99196811]

What's in the photo? A wall of haze trapped behind a massive, mountainous ridge

Who took the photo? An unnamed astronaut on board the International Space Station

When was it taken? Dec. 17, 2023

This astronaut photo, captured in 2023, shows a wall of haze trapped by a mountain range in Pakistan. The low angle of the photo provides a unique perspective of the clouds pressed up against the peaks.

Pictured in the image is a section of the Sulaiman Mountains, which cover around 2,500 square miles (6,500 square kilometers) of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The name "Sulaiman" means "of Solomon" in Balochi — a reference to the biblical figure King Solomon, who ruled ancient Israel around 3,000 years ago.

The mountains form a natural barrier around 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level. Elevated plateaus sit to their west, and the Indus River Valley lies to their east, where moisture from the Indian Ocean frequently accumulates, creating a mix of haze, mist and clouds. The various forms of water vapor are too low to pass above the mountains and are instead forced around the peaks via a process known as terrain-forced flow, according to NASA's Earth Observatory.

However, some small clouds can still force their way in between the peaks in a few places. One of these spots, located in the center of the image, is right above a small Pakistani town named Dhana Sar, where a gorge cuts through the mountains.

Related: 12 amazing images of Earth from space

A histroical sketch of a group of people in front of Takht-e-Sulaiman

This sketch from the 19th century shows members of the Lohani tribe setting up camp at the base of the Sulaiman Mountain's most famous peak, Takht-e-Sulaiman. (Image credit: Godfrey Thomas Vigne/Wikimedia)

The Sulaiman Mountains are an extension of the southern Hindu Kush mountain system, which formed around 60 million years ago by a "slow-motion collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates," according to NASA's Earth Observatory.

The mountains' best-known peak is Takht-e-Sulaiman, also known as the "Throne of Solomon," where its namesake supposedly climbed up to gaze over Hindustan — the ancient term used to describe the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, according to the writings of 14th-century explorer Ibn Battuta. This mountain, which is 11,440 feet (3,487 m) tall, is located just out of shot (to the left of the image), around 20 miles (32 km) north of Dhana Sar.

Despite being captured from space, the photo looks like it has been taken from the air because it is "oblique," meaning it has been taken side-on from an angle of around 45 degrees. This effect can be achieved only from the International Space Station because astronauts can take photos out of the station's side windows. Most satellites, by contrast, are restricted to the traditional straight-down, or "nadir," perspective.

Harry Baker
Senior Staff Writer

Harry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior, evolution and paleontology. His feature on the upcoming solar maximum was shortlisted in the "top scoop" category at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Awards for Excellence in 2023.