10 Wildest Google Street View Adventures
The Street View feature on Google Maps can be a lifesaver when you need to know exactly where to go, and it provides important visual information that a bird's eye view experience simply can't provide.
It's also an amusing way for you (and several others, as it turns out) to kill time. You can zoom down the avenues of European capitals or hunt suburban side streets for tableaux of American life -- suburban samurai locked in battle, bike accidents frozen mid-fall, or the more risqué displays of human behavior you'll have to view on sites other than this one.
But Street View is so much more, as Google has amply demonstrated over the years, taking us to far-flung locations most people have never even heard about, let alone seen in person.
It's also brought us new visions of familiar landscapes, such as the breathtaking cliff faces of Yosemite National Park and the murky depths of Loch Ness, supposed home of the eponymous beast lurking in its waters.
Street View serves a dual purpose as entertainer and educator, bringing us to dizzying heights and depths, and offering immersive, interactive visual experiences. We can see the colorful and exotic Coral Triangle in Asia, home of the richest coral reefs on Earth, and the horrific prison cells of Robben Island, South Africa, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in solitary confinement before attaining freedom.
No matter how well travelled you are, on this big blue ball there's always something new under the sun. We've selected 10 of Street View's coolest, most fascinating tours for you to explore. Once you've enjoyed these, tell us about your favorites, and tell us in the comments section below if you have any favorites that we missed.
The Heart Of Asia's Coral Triangle
This trip features 360-degree virtual dives from 20 reefs across the Asia-Pacific region, including ones in the Philippines, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands, Australia, and American Samoa. The area is home to 76% of known coral species and more than 3,000 species of fish.
Baobab Trees, Lemurs, And More
Home to both tropically humid and dry forests in the interior, Baobab trees, ring-tailed lemurs, and coastal mangrove ecosystems, the 88-million-year-old island of Madagascar holds some of the most unusual and delicate ecosystems on Earth. Street View also takes you sailing into the Mozambique Channel to see the remote Barren Isles archipelago.
Mandela's Fight for Freedom
You can explore the historical artifacts on this tour of Robben Island, where future president of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. There are photographs of his cell during the time of his incarceration. You can also learn more about the great leader's fight for justice and equality.
Hunt For The Loch Ness Monster
The myth of the famous, albeit unconfirmed, beast that may prowl this Scottish freshwater lake has sparked imaginations worldwide. Street View lets you join the hunt for Nessie with an extensive tour of this vast and deep body of water, which stretches for 23 miles southwest of Inverness.
Cruise The Danube
Take a cruise through six countries, three capitals, and enjoy a variety of arresting landscapes along the banks of the Danube, with views of German castles, the gorgeous baroque city of Vukovar in Croatia, and the spectacular majesty of Hungary's Parliament Building in Budapest among the highlights.
India's Great Places
Sure, we've all seen plenty of pictures of the Taj Mahal, but have you ever heard of Thanjavur Temple or the Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, animpressive series of nine Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary? We didn't think so. Street View collected photos of 31 individual sites. All of the images are worth a look.
Brazil's Islands, Above And Below
Take some time to explore the beaches and the colorful residents in thedeep-sea depths of Fernando de Noronha, a group of islands known for their natural beauty and ecotourism -- a prized destination in Brazil. You can also virtually visit Atol das Rocas, an atoll in the South Atlantic ocean used exclusively for scientific research.
Viking Ruins, Majestic Fjords
Greenland's most popular tourist destination, known as the Ilulissat Icefjord, is an UNESCO World Heritage site. It's one of many natural wonders and historical sites on the world's largest island. Street View will also take you past some Viking ruins and other cultural gems
Earth's Indoor Wonders
It's not all about the great outdoors with Street View -- the service also offers plenty of inside spaces to check out, including the studio where The Colbert Report was produced, various Hilton hotels, and restaurants in Paris and Tokyo. Business View may not be as spectacular as a dive in the Galapagos, but at least you'll get a better picture of the hotel pool.
Vertical View Of El Capitan
The Street View team collaborated with a group of professional climbers to photograph the ascent up El Capitan, a 3,000-foot-tall rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley. While the vistas are spectacular, people with a predilection for vertigo are advised to approach with caution.