Space Spy Sees France's Famous 'Pink City'!
Did you know there is a giant city in Europe that glows soft pink from high up in orbit?
Satellites flying hundreds of miles above Earth recently snapped a stunning portrait of Toulouse, a busy city in southwest France. When scientists zoomed out, the entire urban landscape showed off a warm, rosy blush!
Why does it look pink? The secret isn't candy-colored paint or fields of cotton candy. Thousands of historic buildings throughout the city are topped with traditional terracotta tiles. These baked-clay tiles carry a warm reddish-orange color that reflects sunlight back up into the sky.
From far away, our eyes and satellite lenses blend all those reddish tiles together, turning the town into a giant pastel mosaic. French locals have known this secret for centuries, lovingly calling Toulouse 'La Ville Rose'—which translates to 'The Pink City.'
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Based on reporting by ESA Top News.