A year in space: 30 pictures of Earth taken from the International Space Station in 2011

The images in this picture gallery were taken hundreds of miles above the Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). They chart some of the most important natural events of 2011, from hurricanes and wildfires to the devastating tsunami that hit Japan in March. The International Space Station has been continuously occupied for 11 years and 47 days. The complex now has more liveable room than a conventional five-bedroomed house, and has two bathrooms, a gymnasium and a 360-degree bay window. The ISS is maintained at an orbital altitude of between 278 km (173 mi) and 460 km (286 mi).

6th January 2011: The Himalaya Mountains photographed by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).