30 unexpected finds from Google Earth (31 photos)

For two decades now, Google Earth has given us a unique opportunity to see the world like never before. In a matter of seconds, you can virtually be transported to a quiet street in Sweden or to a tropical island. These interactive maps allow us to look into places we may never get to in person. But don’t think of them as boring: sometimes they capture unexpected and surprising phenomena and situations.





1. Look what I found!



2. Medusa





3. Jumped out unexpectedly hare



4. There are a lot of fish in the sea



5. The Mexican city of Xico is surrounded by a large volcanic crater



A crater a kilometer in diameter creates fertile soil and natural protection for agricultural land.

6. The world's largest renewable energy park in Howda, Gujarat, India



7. Hashima Island in Japan



The island became famous after the release of a feature film telling its story. Locals call it Gunkanjima (Japanese for "cruiser").

The island was settled in 1810 when coal was discovered there, and it was a silent witness to Japan's rapid industrialization. It was not only home to mines and factories, but also residential areas. By the 1950s, the population had reached 5,000.

Decades later, coal prices plummeted. As a result, the mines were closed, and by 1975, all residents had left Hashima.

9. The Island of Disappointment



10. The Building Looks Like a Man



11. Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain



The municipality is part of the province of Girona in the autonomous community of Catalonia. The 10th-century town sits on a 50-metre-high basalt cliff. Charming streets and traditional stone houses, as well as the 13th-century church of San Salvador, reflect a rich history.

12. Japanese Man Travels 7,000 Kilometers to Write “Marry Me” Using GPS



Tokyo resident Yasushi “Yasan” Takahashi used GPS technology to propose to his girlfriend. The man spent months meticulously planning his trip around Japan using Google Earth. His goal was to write the phrase “Marry me.”

In June, Yasan quit his job and went on a trip. In six months, he traveled 7,163 km from Hokkaido to Kagoshima. He documented the entire journey. After uploading it to Google Earth, a huge message appeared on the screen that read “Marry me.” So the Japanese man not only got his beloved's consent, but also set a Guinness record.

13. "Help"



14. The Aral Sea level is falling



15. Google Earth has started updating images Gases



16. Everyone wants to fit in! Antarctica



17. Don't Park Here



18. Croatia's Fingerprint-Like Baljenac Island



The Island Is Covered A 23-kilometer network of stone walls built for farming.

19. Are there hobbits in Italy?



20. Tu-144 in the yard



21. Stunning formation in southern Algeria



22. Two shipwrecks in Venezuela



23. Go to Google Earth, type in the search Kent St. 44305 and click Street View



24. 50.010611, -110.113422 SE Alberta, Canada



25. Horseman, UK. 50°39'28"N 2°24'12"W



27. In the depths of 34°41'18 «N 139°26'14 »E



28. In 2012, Australian researchers "discovered" an island the size of Manhattan in the South Pacific ocean



A mysterious place appeared on maps northwest of New Caledonia. But when scientists sailed there in November 2012, they found nothing but endless waters.

28. Ottoman Embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea



29. Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, USA



30. Beach Playa de los Muertos