It's safe to say that Google maps are pretty awesome. They give you directions from destination A to destination B; you can see your house through Google Street View; and this option also enables you to traverse parts of the world from the comfort of your own home or smart phone by offering 360 degree panoramic views of places such as the Swiss Alps or Atlantis Space Shuttle. But it doesn't stop there. While Google Street View has given us the privilege of seeing an array of amazing geography during all hours of the day, they've taken their street level views to another level: allowing us to see the nooks and crannies of the planet unavailable by car or plane. . . beginning with the Grand Canyon.
And why not? As one of the U.S.'s most popular landmarks to visit and see from around the world, the Grand Canyon's depth and mileage are both an awe to witness and explore. But while its trails offer exceptionally beautiful scenery, it is only available to those hikers treading the paths--ones that are typically accessible solely by foot. However, Google's Street View camera is giving us the opportunity to partake in those majestic views by mapping some of the Grand Canyon's most popular trails.
The new camera they are utilizing is called the
Street View Trekker: a camera system atop a wearable backpack. The name is quite fitting for its usage as it treks through rugged and rough terrain. The Street View team utilizes this camera to take automatic 360-degree images as they walk through Grand Canyon's trails which is controlled by an Android phone. Photos have already been gathered from portions of the South Rim, including the ridge, Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, and more.
These views will be available on Google maps soon as they continue to pave the way for offering us virtual tours from the crevices of the world's grandiosity and wonders.
--Christine Nguyen
Read More:
Google's Most Interesting Environmental Maps
Google Earth to the Rescue
Bicycling Directions, Courtesy of Google Maps
