When we look at maps or satellite pictures, we usually have a pretty good idea of how our world looks and what it should look like. And what we see on pictures of the Earth from outer space echoes our understanding of this by showing forests, mountains or fields. Familiar stuff. But the planet is vast, and so is the array of satellite pictures from obscure and scarcely visited corners of our world—and all of them can be found on Google Maps, if you look the right places. And so I did, and I collected the 19 abstruse satellite views found below.
Move your mouse over any map to see the location.
Don’t worry—you can scroll through the page freely without accidentally zooming.
“Earth Art” is about showing beautiful natural art from above by looking at incredibly unusual landscapes in places with extreme climate. And, because of technology, you don’t even have to leave your seat. But unlike GoogleSightseeing.com, this isn’t only for the obscurity: it’s for the art.
So follow me to where there’s no Street View and enjoy the abstract art of nature seen from above!
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
Vuntut National Park, Yukon, Canada
Prince of Wales Island, Northern Canada
Southern Kamchatka, Eastern Russia
Northwestern Québec, Canada
West Kamchatka, Eastern Russia
Update, April 22nd: Want more? As a celebration of Earth Day, there’s a brand new set of 37 Earth Art satellite images out: Earth Art pt. II!
Atro
wrote at March 13th, 2010, 11:53 PM
You're missing Australia and Africa. But Canada and Alaska are really well represented, I must say.