The official blog for Google Maps
Greenlandic fjords and viking ruins await your discovery in Google Maps
February 18, 2015
Your virtual viking ship is here to take you on a journey through Greenland with Street View in Google Maps. Thanks to our partners
Visit Greenland
and
Asiaq
, you can now explore immersive 360-degree imagery of the world’s largest island, which is sparsely populated yet chock full of glorious natural wonders and historical sites. Let us take you on a tour of fjords, waterfront vistas, Norse ruins and more.
Floating by Ilulissat, you can see why the breathtaking
Ilulissat icefjord
is the country’s most popular tourist destination. Also an UNESCO World Heritage site, the stunning ice wall seems to defy gravity as it reaches up into the clear, blue sky.
Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland
Greenland’s wonders don’t end with ice. In Brattahlid, where
Erik the Red
established the first viking colony in the year 982, you can come face to face with history as you look at the reconstruction of the
New World’s first church
.
Brattahlid, Greenland
At the abandoned settlement Hvalsey, you can visit
Hvalsey Church
, the best preserved Norse ruins in Greenland. The Church was also the location of the last written record of the Greenlandic Norse in 1408.
Hvalsey Church, Greenland
Nuutoqaq, the colonial harbor, is full of gorgeous vistas, fjords and monuments to local heroes. The
statue of Hans Egede
, the Danish-Norwegian explorer who founded the nearby town of Nuuk, is hard to miss (not that you’d want to!).
Hans Egede Statue, Nuutoqaq, Greenland
To see more of Greenland’s world-renowned
icebergs
and cultural gems, start your
virtual exploration
now. Like the Vikings before you, a new frontier awaits.
Posted by Alex Starns, Street View Technical Program Manager
Goin’ to the chapel this Valentine’s weekend
February 12, 2015
Thanks to the ease and low cost of acquiring a marriage license, Las Vegas is considered the
Marriage Capital of the World
. For many, Vegas weddings are a chance to be spontaneous and embrace the unexpected. This Valentine’s Day, we hope you’ll say yes… and visit
the chapels
that make Las Vegas famous with Street View in Google Maps.
From the regal
Classico Chapel in Caesars Palace
to the more simple
Las Vegas Love Chapel
, there’s a variety of places to say “I do.” You can take a seat at the locations of some of the world’s most remembered (for better or for worse) Vegas weddings. Want to know why Jon Bon Jovi and Jay Leno picked
Graceland Wedding Chapel
for one of the biggest days in their lives? Take a look:
Graceland Wedding Chapel
If your dream wedding involves walking down the aisle in a silk tuxedo to the tune of “Burning Love,” stop by
Planet Hollywood
(formerly
the Aladdin
) and relive the eight minutes it took for Elvis Presley and Priscilla to get married there. The original hotel is gone, but you can say your virtual vows at Planet Hollywood’s chapel. (And let’s not forget that in Vegas,
Elvis can marry you
—to your loved one, of course.)
Plant Hollywood's Wedding Chapel
Whether you're ready to take the marital plunge, walk down memory aisle, or just pique your curiosity,
this collection
is a fun celebration of romance—Vegas style.
Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager
Today we turn 10!
February 8, 2015
For
10 years Google Maps
has made it easier to navigate and explore your world. If you hopped in your
DeLorean
for a trip back to before 2005, you’d remember the days when we were all dependent on paper maps, print-outs, post-its and sometimes even a compass for directions! Getting from point A to B is something we do all day, every day—from finding the fastest way to get to work, to dropping the kids off on a carpool route, to meeting friends for drinks at a new spot—so it should be as easy as possible. That’s why we created Google Maps and why we’ve spent the last 10 years figuring out better ways for you to get around.
Through projects like
Ground Truth
and passionate communities like
Map Maker
, we strive to provide you with the most comprehensive, accurate and useful maps. And with
Google Maps for mobile
, you no longer have to worry about getting lost or deciding where to go next when you’re on the move.
As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we hope you're as excited as we are to navigate uncharted territory in pursuit of the perfect map—together. A planet-size thank you to everyone who has navigated, explored and contributed to the map with us over the past decade.
Time for cake!
The Google Maps Team
Google Earth Pro is now free
January 30, 2015
Over the last 10 years, businesses, scientists and hobbyists from all over the world have been using
Google Earth Pro
for everything from planning hikes to placing solar panels on rooftops. Google Earth Pro has all the easy-to-use features and detailed imagery of Google Earth, along with advanced tools that help you measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies of your virtual flights around the world.
Starting today, even more people will be able to access Google Earth Pro: we're making it available for free. To see what Earth Pro can do for you—or to just have fun flying around the world—
grab a free key
and
download Earth Pro today
. If you're an existing user, your key will continue to work with no changes required.
Plan in 3D using Google Earth Pro
Whether you're planning a new office building or a trip to the mountains, check out Google Earth Pro and see how easy it is to visualize your world.
Posted by Stafford Marquardt, Product Manager, Google Earth Pro
The aurora borealis lights up Google Maps
January 15, 2015
Nature’s greatest light show has come to Google Maps for the first time. Starting today, armchair arctic explorers, science lovers and curious observers will be able to explore the
Northern Lights
in Finland right from Google Maps.
Northern Lights, Finland
Also known as the aurora borealis (after Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Boreas, the Greek name for north wind), these dazzling lights are the effect of charged particles interacting with one another in earth’s atmosphere. These light displays have long been a source of wonder for poets and travelers gazing up at the otherworldly colors in stark contrast with the austere, arctic terrain. However, they can only be seen in person at certain latitudes and times of year, making this breathtaking sight a rare experience for most of us.
To see more views of the Northern Lights, explore the
Google Maps gallery
. Click across the frozen lake in Finland where these shots were captured, and take in the awe-inspiring views above.
Posted by Magdalena Filak, Google Maps Street View Associate Program Manager
Ho Ho Ho! Track Santa around the world with Google’s Santa Tracker
December 24, 2014
After 23 days of preparation, the elves are finally ready for Santa’s annual journey around the globe. They’ve taught each other how to say
"Santa Claus" in Swedish
, guided their friends through mazes
with code
, brushed up on
their geography
, and learned about
organizations making a difference worldwide
. It’s been a busy month, but Santa’s sleigh is now ready for lift-off!
The elves brushed up on coding fundamentals with blockly maze games
The elves decorated their trees with ornaments about organizations making a difference
Each stop on Santa’s journey offers more to explore—discover 360-degree imagery, Wikipedia snippets, geography facts, and updates on how far Santa’s current location is from yours (take note—Santa’s path is not a direct one!). Come back and visit
google.com/santatracker
throughout the night for more surprises, like sleigh selfies or a
latitude and longitude game
to deliver presents.
Follow Santa on any screen—desktop, phone, tablet, or TV
If you’re on the ho-ho-go, download the
Santa Tracker App for Android
to keep track of Santa on your phone or tablet. With the Android app, watch Santa’s journey on your TV using Chromecast, or on your wrist with Android Wear (especially handy when wrapping last-minute gifts). And, you can always search for Santa on
www.google.com
or on
Google Maps
, and get real-time location updates with Google Now in the Google App.
Santa’s available at the flick of the wrist with Android Wear
Santa’s got a long and exciting night ahead of him before heading back to the North Pole. Grab some eggnog, set out the cookies, and join Google Maps on
Google+
,
Facebook
and
Twitter
to
#tracksanta
!
Posted by Brendan Kenny, Reindeer Platform Engineer
Do some holiday (window) shopping with Google Maps
December 19, 2014
So much of the fun of holiday shopping is seeing the lavish, seasonal displays in the windows of shops and department stores as you pass by. Starting today, with
Google Maps Business View
, you can see decked out displays in New York and London—without braving the cold weather, lugging bags around or fighting for sidewalk space with fellow shoppers. Now grab your virtual reindeer because we’re off to our holiday window tour!
Stopping by Saks Fifth Avenue is a must for any holiday window shopper. Gazing at the dreamy
Once Upon a Time in NYC
, you can imagine being Cinderella in a magical carriage. Note: Prince Charming and glass slipper sold separately.
Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, USA
Cruising by Macy’s in Herald Square, a
Miracle on 34th Street
awaits. Peering through the glass, you can see
Santa and his elves
hard at work. After all, we’re only a week away from their big night!
Macy’s, New York, NY, USA
Rounding out our NYC tour, Bloomingdale’s is getting the
New Year’s Eve
party started early. There’s no place to ring in 2015 like in the bright lights of the big city.
Bloomingdale’s, New York, NY, USA
Holiday shopping in London may be blustery and cold, but the lovely, inviting window displays are sure to warm the heart. Stopping first at Selfridges, you can go on a
themed journey from fairytale to fable
, all finished with rhymes...even their windows have labels!
Selfridges, London, UK
Looking into the
gilded window displays
at Liberty London, you might believe that all that glitters is gold after all. Look closer to see the plethora of presents tempting you inside to the promises of holiday joy behind the glass.
Liberty, London, UK
And finally, if you’re doing some last minute shopping, you can prepare for a trip by taking a look
inside
the stores in Google Maps.
Business View
, provides virtual tours of thousands of retail shops around the world, whether you’re headed to
Old Navy
in San Francisco or
Benetton
in Russia. Just look for the “See Inside” marker on Maps, Search and Google+, which lets you virtually explore your holiday shopping destination.
Walking in a winter wonderland
has never been so easy (and warm!).
Posted by Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, Product Manager, Google Maps Business View
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