BP GEOGRAPHIC

As if the world wants to promote itself. Flying over the northern coast of Australia. The blue planet is sometimes really just that.

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world’s most famous and distinctive buildings, and a masterpiece of twentieth-century architecture. The building was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge which connects the central business district of Sydney with its North Shore.

It was built from 1923 until 1932 and is nicknamed “The Coathanger” because of its design. The view from it is regarded as iconic about Sydney or Australia in general.

No one would expect it here, but this road is in fact a race track. Albert Park in Melbourne is not just a normal park, it hosts the Australian Formula One Grand Prix once a year. Half of the circuit is only used as a race track while almost the other half is a normal road most of the time of the year.

This is where it begins each season. Pit lane entry at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. Here a Formula One driver would need to be ready to press the pit limiter button when reaching the white line from which a speed limit of 80 km/h is in place. The start and finish straight is to the left.

Albert Park Circuit was first opened in 1953 and closed again in 1958. It was later reopened in 1996 and is hosting the Australian Grand Prix since then.

The circuit uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small man-altered lake, originally a large lagoon. The road sections that are used were rebuilt before the inaugural event in 1996 to ensure consistency and smoothness.

The distance to Mars is not as long as expected. It is enough to fly over Australia. The outback looks indeed a bit like the red planet.