This pair of images shows the growth of one of the largest surface mines in West Virginia from 1984 (left) to 2009. The Hobet mine in Boone county reaps coal from thin seams below the densely forested slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. The active mining areas appear off-white, while areas being reclaimed with vegetation appear light green. In 1984, the mining operation is limited to a relatively small area west of the Coal River. By 2009, it is has expanded across more than 15.6 square miles to the south and west.
Photograph: Nasa
The Guardian
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