Satellite images show airports, ports, and highways left deserted as the world faces coronavirus social distancing and lockdowns

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As of March 25, around a third of the world's population is now under some form of lockdown because of coronavirus, leaving major transportation hubs almost completely deserted.

As of March 25, around a third of the world's population is now under some form of lockdown because of coronavirus, leaving major transportation hubs almost completely deserted.
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Travel has slowed down so much that even the runways at Los Angeles International Airport, which is the third busiest in the world by passenger count, are extraordinarily empty.

Travel has slowed down so much that even the runways at Los Angeles International Airport, which is the third busiest in the world by passenger count, are extraordinarily empty.

Source: Airports Council International

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It's a similar picture at another airport in California, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, which is almost entirely empty of planes.

It's a similar picture at another airport in California, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, which is almost entirely empty of planes.

Further inland in Utah, at Salt Lake City airport, just one-third of the airport's stands are filled with parked planes.

Further inland in Utah, at Salt Lake City airport, just one-third of the airport's stands are filled with parked planes.
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And even the parking lot of the airport is looking eerily empty.

And even the parking lot of the airport is looking eerily empty.

More than 500 flights were canceled at Denver International Airport on March 23. This image, taken one day after, shows empty parking lots and a vacant main terminal.

More than 500 flights were canceled at Denver International Airport on March 23. This image, taken one day after, shows empty parking lots and a vacant main terminal.

Source: Denver Post

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The story is the same in Europe. The photo below shows two lonely airplanes parked next to each other at Munich International Airport. It is one of Germany's largest airports, and also the secondary hub — after Frankfurt — to Lufthansa, Germany's national carrier airline.

The story is the same in Europe. The photo below shows two lonely airplanes parked next to each other at Munich International Airport. It is one of Germany's largest airports, and also the secondary hub — after Frankfurt — to Lufthansa, Germany's national carrier airline.

Source: Deutsche Welle

In Lisbon, Portugal a lot of planes have been parked, as traffic has slowed down.

In Lisbon, Portugal a lot of planes have been parked, as traffic has slowed down.
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In Asia, a similar scene can be observed, but on a much larger scale. Here, hundreds of planes can be seen parked at Hong Kong International Airport, which handles about 71.5 million passengers every year.

In Asia, a similar scene can be observed, but on a much larger scale. Here, hundreds of planes can be seen parked at Hong Kong International Airport, which handles about 71.5 million passengers every year.

Source: Hong Kong International Airport

It isn't just airports that are deserted because of the pandemic. Major ports like the Harbor Department of the City of Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, are practically deserted.

It isn't just airports that are deserted because of the pandemic. Major ports like the Harbor Department of the City of Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, are practically deserted.
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The Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest container port in the United States, after the Port of Los Angeles, which it is next to. It is still operating.

The Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest container port in the United States, after the Port of Los Angeles, which it is next to. It is still operating.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Port of Long Beach

Elsewhere in Los Angeles, the city's famously busy highways, which are usually filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic, are silent and empty.

Elsewhere in Los Angeles, the city's famously busy highways, which are usually filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic, are silent and empty.
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The people of America's second-biggest city, have seemingly followed official instructions and are staying at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

The people of America's second-biggest city, have seemingly followed official instructions and are staying at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Roads on the east coast are also much quieter than usual. This truck stop in Fairfield, Connecticut only has a few trucks parked in it, and hardly any cars.

Roads on the east coast are also much quieter than usual. This truck stop in Fairfield, Connecticut only has a few trucks parked in it, and hardly any cars.
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While the duration of the lockdowns will differ from country to country, the restricted measures are likely to have a severe impact on the travel and shipping industry around the world for many months to come.

While the duration of the lockdowns will differ from country to country, the restricted measures are likely to have a severe impact on the travel and shipping industry around the world for many months to come.

Source: Business Insider