This Is Why National Parks Are So Important

This incredible satellite image is of the dormant volcano of Egmont National Park on New Zealand's North Island. And that clear, sharp boundary on the left is where the park stops and human kind starts.

The image, taken on 6 March 2013 by Korea's Kompsat-2 satellite, clearly shows the boundary between protected and non-protected areas: the green, densely forested area and surrounding agricultural landscape. The land here was first formally protected in 1881, within a 9.6 km radius of the mountain summit.

Mount Egmont is considered an active volcano, although it last produced lava in the 1850s or 1860s. Here is the full image:

And an amazing detailed view of the volcano:

[KARI/ESA]