Russia's green shields: Satellite spots protective tree lines

Astronauts noticed one photo taken by the satellite, showing three parallel lines cutting across the steppes of southern Russia near the Volga River's banks.

Upon further analysis, it was discovered that these unusual lines act as a protective screen. The dark lines are rows of dense tree plantings designed to shield crops from strong winds and prevent soil erosion.

In several places, the green belt is interrupted by paths and a stream, which irrigates crops. The upper belt is separated from the lower by about half a mile. Smaller green belts safeguard drainage channels from being buried under sand and protect surface waters from evaporation.

This practice of shielding crops from wind erosion has been known in this part of Russia since the eighteenth century. The initial settlers in the steppes observed that soils, following afforestation, became significantly richer in organic carbon compared to those left fallow and unprotected against the wind. Today, this technique is employed over an area spanning approximately 4.9 million acres of cultivated steppe soils, yielding excellent results.