Millions of people are using Google Earth everyday; everybody just wants to know how their house looks like from space. But in all seriousness, it’s been a year since since Google revamped their Google Earth for web, Android and iOS. Hundreds of millions of armchair explorers have spent the past year with Google Earth. To celebrate its birthday, here’s some things that make Google Earth go round over the last 365 days.
1. I can see my house from here!
Almost everyone who starts up Google Earth will first search their home. That’s just the beginning though: Google says that many also search for famous landmarks such as Times Square, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Mount Everest and Niagara Falls. There’s also quite a number of users with an out-of-this-world fascination with Area 51. Google are also seeing a recent rise for searches for Wakanda on Google Earth.
When it comes to actually travelling, many opted for classic destinations like New York City and Paris. Google Earth’s next most popular travel itinerary though is Santorini, Greece. A little sun out at the beach won’t hurt right?
2. Keep checking your home; three billion people’s houses have been added
Google are constantly updating their Google Earth and Google Maps coverage all the time. In the year since the revamped Earth, they’ve added and updated their 2D and 3D imagery, covering an additional three billion. That’s an additional 40 percent of the world’s population! From New York City to Hakodate, Japan, Google has covered over 400 cities and metro areas with new high-resolution 3D imagery.
3. Everyone loves taking a gamble
According to Google, their I’m Feeling Lucky feature is one of Earth’s most popular. Through a simple roll of the dice (or click, in this case), you’ll be sent to a random place from around the world. Users have rolled the dice 190 million times since the revamp; roughly six rolls every second! To commemorate their birthday as well as Earth Day, whenever you tweet #ImFeelingEarthy to @googleearth, you might be given a surprise!
4. You’ve got mail! Postcards, specifically. Lots of them
Everyone’s been caught daydreaming about that next great adventure. Google knows that too, which is why they added the Postcards feature for mobile. Now whenever you find a great new city to visit, you could share it with a friend and get them dreaming too. Last year alone, Google Earth users sent over 40 million postcards; that would’ve been RM195 million in postage fees. I mean, can you blame them? Look at these gorgeous postcards:
5. Everyone loves watching the furries
Google Earth users have been watching brown bears fish for salmon in Alaska as well as polar bears lurking around the Tundra Buggy Lodge in Canada. This is made possible because of Explore.org’s network of live nature cams in Google Earth. Even though the bird’s next was literally empty, people were still watching! Google hopes to see you guys watch some puffin and guillemot action in the next few weeks too.
6. Going to infinity and beyond, thanks to Voyager stories
Google estimates millions of users have been following over 300 interactive Voyager stories. This has given people tours of everything from the Great Sphinx to a Mexican crater and even Mars. Some of the most popular Voyager stories are those that introduce new cultures and habitats. These include: This is Home, I Am Amazon and BBC Earth’s Natural Treasures. Teachers and students alike explored the solar system with Japan’s Miraikan, while investigating the death of the dinosaurs with HHMI Biointeractive. Meanwhile, some stories were just great for relaxing to: Earth View and NASA’s Earth at Night.
Here’s one cool story for you: the eclipse of the sun.
What a year it has been for the new Google Earth! Let’s hope the next year of exploring the world will be just as great.
To try out Google Earth for yourself, you can click here.
