In Australia, the rock known as Uluru to native Australians, and as Ayers Rock to
others, represents a religious place vital to the culture of the native people. In Shinto,
Mount Fuji and many other natural features are considered to be the residence of
kami,or spirits, and are thus part of the sacred landscape of Japan. Indeed, natural
features were likely the first sacred spaces claimed by human beings.Satellite Images
Since the late 1950s humans have constructed and launched artificial satellites for a
variety of purposes. These satellites employremote sensingto explore theEarth’s
surface and atmospheric phenomena by using the electromagnetic properties of
those phenomena. Usually, satellites are capable of multispectral remote sensing
to simultaneously assess electromagnetic properties in a variety of wavelengths.292 Satellite Images
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is an example of contested sacred space. This location is held sacred
by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. (Lucidwaters/Dreamstime.com)