The Étang de Montady, southern France
The Étang de Montady, located in southern France near the town of Montady, is a remarkable example of medieval land reclamation. Originally a wetland, it was drained in the 13th century using a radial system of ditches converging at a central collection point. This ingenious hydraulic design transformed the area into fertile farmland and created a sunburst pattern which remains clearly visible today.
This false-colour image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel‑2 satellites on 11 May 2024, shows the radial layout of the agricultural landscape surrounding the former wetland, intersected by canals and roads.
Open data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites is key for monitoring land use change and agricultural productivity. This data helps track seasonal vegetation dynamics and support sustainable land and water management around the world.
