On the beach of a small island that belongs to the Panamanian archipelago of San Blas. The archipelago stretches over a length of 350 kilometres not far from the Atlantic coast. It consists of 365 islands and islets of various sizes that rise only a few metres above sea level. 48 islands are inhabited. They have curious names like Nalunega, Kortbiski or Cauwualla. The tides are insignificant here. Each island, even the smallest, has rich vegetation. - 1977

On the beach of Travesía near Puerto Cortés in Honduras, on the Caribbean coast. This is where Christopher Columbus set foot on the continent on his fourth and last voyage in 1502. - 1977

Travesía beach near Puerto Cortés, Honduras, on the Caribbean coast. This is probably the same landscape that Christopher Columbus saw when he landed on the mainland in 1502 during his fourth and final voyage. This coast is exposed to the Atlantic trade winds. The temperature is very high and rainfall is abundant throughout the year. These two factors allow an exuberant and varied vegetation to develop. All the species typical of tropical regions are represented here. The sea is full of fish, and the beach is home to many animals such as turtles, which frequent the area especially when they lay their eggs. In the thick forest nearby, criss-crossed by numerous rivers, wild animals abound, including jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, agoutis, deer, marsupials, reptiles, as well as a multitude of monkeys and birds that are a delight to naturalists. - 1977

This is probably the image that the Spice Islands presented to the first European sailors... Tidore is the southern sister island of Ternate, located west of the large Moluccan island of Halmahera. The beach, towered over by coconut palms, is littered with blackish basalt debris, evidence of the volcanic origin of most of these islands. – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... - Togolo Beach on the island of Tidore – Moluccas – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... – Latuhalat Beach – Ambon – Moluccas – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... – Waitomu – Ambon – Moluccas – 1990

Fishing boat on the southern beach of Tidore, a circular volcanic island in the North Moluccas, historically known as an important spice island. – 1990

Sunset on the beach in Colombo, Sri Lanka – 1990

Natural spectacle on the beach near Colombo, Sri Lanka – 1990

Koggala Beach in Sri Lanka. This stretch of coastline is located in the southern province of the country, about 120 km south of the capital Colombo and not far from the historic city of Galle. The striking rocks in the water are typical of this stretch of coastline between Unawatuna and Weligama. – 1990

Evening scene on Weligama Beach in the Galle district on the south coast of Sri Lanka. A cormorant dives for prey while stilt fishermen fish from their high seats rammed into the seabed. This method is an unusual form of fishing that originated during the Second World War. Balancing on this frame, the fishermen often hold a fishing rod in one hand for hours while storing their catch in a bag attached to their waist. The poles are often passed down from generation to generation within families. – 1990

A fisherman sits on a wooden structure, known as a ‘petta’, which is anchored to the seabed. He waits patiently there for hours on his stilts until the fish bite. – 1990

Dalawella Beach in the south of the country. The region is known for its wide sandy beaches, coconut groves and excellent conditions for travellers. – 1990

The beach at Balapitiya is characterised by fine sand, coconut palms and distinctive rock formations in the water. - 1990

A group of fishermen on the coast of Galle, in southern Sri Lanka, who traditionally work together to pull a large net out of the water that has been set out at sea from a boat. This form of small-scale fishing has been practised for generations and is often an important part of the local identity and economy in coastal villages. – 1990

Traditional Sri Lankan dugout sailing boats known as oruwa. These iconic boats can be found on the beach at Negombo, a town on the west coast of Sri Lanka. An oruwa is essentially a seaworthy dugout boat with a distinctive outrigger that provides stability. Traditionally, these boats are used by local fishermen for catching fish and crabs in the lagoons (such as Negombo Lagoon) as well as on the open sea. – 1990

On Negombo beach, thirty kilometres north of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, fishermen are launching one of their outrigger boats with its characteristic rectangular sail. Early in the morning, they set out in droves for the fishing grounds in the open sea. Fish plays an important role in Ceylonese cuisine. Yet despite the abundance of tropical nature, life in these fishing villages is austere. – 1990

A small fishing boat lying on the beach on the west coast of Sri Lanka, secured in the sand by an anchor. – 1990

The Kappad Reef on the Malabar Coast, four kilometres north of Calicut (now Kozhikode). It was here that Vasco da Gama became the first Portuguese man to set foot on Indian soil on 20 May 1498. In the years that followed, in their quest for spices and other treasures of the Orient, the Portuguese would extend their conquests as far as Indonesia and also gain a foothold in southern China. – 1990

The Malabar Coast at Vizhinjam Beach, twenty kilometres south of Trivandrum, the capital of the south-western Indian state of Kerala. On the beach, overlooked by a lighthouse, fishermen lay out their nets to dry. – 1990

These traditional wooden boats are typical of the coastal region around Vizhinjam Beach and are used for fishing in the Arabian Sea. On the beach, the fishermen lay out their long nets to dry. – 1990

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