# Share your GoogleEarth 'what is that?' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 5, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190 "2006-03-05T23:05:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/21 "2006-03-06T21:11:12Z")
[The Million-Dollar Bridge](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=2817+s.+quincy+st.,+arlington,+va&ll=38.841126,-77.084568&spn=0.001753,0.003943&t=k) When the highway was put through, they found out that this pedestrian overpass had been built in the wrong place, meaning it had to be torn down and rebuilt! Total cost: somewhere in the neighborhood of a million bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/22 "2006-03-06T21:26:49Z")
[Here](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&t=h&ll=22.486205,113.911877&spn=0.003078,0.004136&t=h) 's my favorite. Note that it makes no more sense in real life than it does in this picture. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/23 "2006-03-06T21:31:38Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > Not sure what this is: > > [http://maps.google.com/?ll=33.626341,-106.591072&spn=0.079473,0.082912&t=k](http://maps.google.com/?ll=33.626341,-106.591072&spn=0.079473,0.082912&t=k) > > Massive reflection or giant white square something? Looks like it’s in the middle of White Sands Missle Range, so its probably an … ah … you know … missle thingy. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/24 "2006-03-06T23:23:17Z")
UFO, above the lake: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33409&ll=26.748651,-80.074550&spn=0.005622,0.007875&t=k&hl=en ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/25 "2006-03-07T00:11:28Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > UFO, above the lake: > [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=33409&ll=26.748651,-80.074550&spn=0.005622,0.007875&t=k&hl=en) My guess - hot air balloon? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/26 "2006-03-07T00:16:15Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > UFO, above the lake: > [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=33409&ll=26.748651,-80.074550&spn=0.005622,0.007875&t=k&hl=en) Water tower ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/27 "2006-03-07T00:27:15Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > Water tower Then why would it be out of focus when other tall buildings on Google maps are not? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/28 "2006-03-07T00:30:59Z")
I think it’s a drop of water on the lens of the camera equipment aboard the photo-aircraft. There was a discussion about it on the Google Earth forums a while back, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/29 "2006-03-07T00:45:06Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > I’ve always wanted to see what this very weird [crater in Siberia](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=russia&ll=57.579933,134.663544&spn=0.421138,1.560059&t=h) looks like up close and personal. Well I found it it’s not a crater, but a very large placer platinum deposit and the site of the [Kondyor Platinum Mine](http://forum.worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/index.php?showtopic=2531&st=0&p=13303&#entry13303) ! ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/30 "2006-03-07T01:31:13Z")
It was pointed out at work the other day that Boeing lost an airplane in Lake Washington. It can be seen just offshore. https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=47.50327,-122.207456&spn=0.000585,0.001207&t=h ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/31 "2006-03-07T03:11:45Z")
Has someone rung Boeing to tell them they found their aeroplane? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/32 "2006-03-07T04:48:19Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Here are a few of my favorites: > > [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.101509,-97.140770&spn=0.244789,0.292168&t=k&hl=en) > > [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.171617,-110.854712&spn=0.010579,0.015171&t=k&hl=en) > > [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.848702,-76.295650&spn=0.005289,0.007585&t=k&hl=en) > > [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.068496,-122.097706&spn=0.005289,0.007585&t=k&hl=en) Nice, with the AMARC and James River stuff. It’s especially fun to try and identify the various aircraft types with the former. Here’s something I thought was neat: https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=48.998071,-113.898268&spn=0.041615,0.067291&t=h It’s on hybrid, but change it to just the satellite and look at where the border between the US and Canada was marked. Apparently they went and effectively MOWED all the trees and stuff for a few dozen yards on either side of the border. Apparently it helps with the illegal Marmot problem:rolleyes:. I’d find more pictures, but my usual site is unfortunately bogged down tonight for whatever reason. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/33 "2006-03-07T20:44:06Z")
> [@Khan](#): > > Here’s something I thought was neat: > > [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/?ll=48.998071,-113.898268&spn=0.041615,0.067291&t=h) > > It’s on hybrid, but change it to just the satellite and look at where the border between the US and Canada was marked. Apparently they went and effectively MOWED all the trees and stuff for a few dozen yards on either side of the border. Apparently it helps with the illegal Marmot problem:rolleyes:. Google Earth indicates that the line corresponds to the northern edge of some sort of park. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/34 "2006-03-07T21:07:28Z")
I think [this](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=mumbai&ll=18.972086,72.851125&spn=0.005641,0.007349&t=h) might be the [ship graveyards of Mumbai](http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm?n=103&l=2&c=8240&title=Number:%202-2003)? ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/35 "2006-03-07T22:45:11Z")
Apparently not all the sides of the photos match up exactly. Either that, or I have reason to be glad I moved away from [this road](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&sll=38.068496,-122.097706&sspn=0.007737,0.01399&q=marin+headland&ll=37.83792,-122.49876&spn=0.007761,0.01399&t=k). ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/36 "2006-03-07T23:04:45Z")
So what happened to [Indiana](http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&ll=39.478606,-85.935059&spn=11.066509,20.258789&t=h)? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/37 "2006-03-07T23:11:13Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > So what happened to [Indiana](http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&ll=39.478606,-85.935059&spn=11.066509,20.258789&t=h)? Well, those grey areas usually indicate areas of higher resolution, so it seems the whole of the state has high-res images associated with it. Not sure why. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/38 "2006-03-07T23:20:18Z")
[The Happiest Place on Earth [sup]TM[/sup].](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=disneyland&t=k&ll=33.812261,-117.918781&spn=0.007488,0.013304&t=k) ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/39 "2006-03-08T00:54:34Z")
[Big car accident in Chicago?](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=41.852490,+-87.614545&ll=41.852419,-87.614467&spn=0.000927,0.002704&t=k) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190/40 "2006-03-08T01:16:55Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > [Big car accident in Chicago?](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=41.852490,+-87.614545&ll=41.852419,-87.614467&spn=0.000927,0.002704&t=k) I don’t think so. Those are three ladder trucks; my guess is they responded to a fire alarm in McCormick Place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-googleearth-what-is-that/347190.md?page=3)