For all of you familiar with Google Earth, sorry! There are quite a few readers that I know haven’t yet been exposed to its wonders, so I am going to press on (although some of you existing Google Earth users might find something interesting in this post anyway).

OK from the start:

  1. You need broadband. If you don’t have it, get it immediately. You’re missing out on some GREAT STUFF.
  2. While you’re waiting for your broadband to be hooked up, read the story below.

Google is giving away a free piece of software, Google Earth. You download it, install it, and the world is then truly your oyster.

They have stitched together satellite images of the whole earth’s surface, and you, the intrepid web surfer, can basically travel the earth, zooming in wherever you like. Most of the more popular sites on earth can be viewed in high resolution, and it is totally amazing.

Now I’ve done a LOT of web surfing (as is evidenced by some of the bizarre links I post) and I would say, without hesitation that this is the best thing on the ‘net I have ever come across.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the screen captures of just some of the places I’ve been! Don’t forget to read on afterwards, because there’s some handy links.

Where I work This is where I work
Sydney Opera House An Aussie landmark you might be familiar with
Flying car A flying car, somewhere in Western Australia :eek_wp:
Waves Somewhere in China
Emerald Necklace Somewhere in Russia

I hope that whet your appetite!

Here’s the link to go get it.

Once you’ve installed it, you’ll probably want to go zooming around on your own for a while, but there’s a goldmine website called the Google Earth Community, where many Google Earth Tragics congregate and post links to various interesting sites they’ve found around the earth. You click on the links they provide and download a .kmz file, which is a Google Earth bookmark (or placemark). Just “open” it with Google Earth when it asks, and you’ll be magically transported right to the spot.

The fabulous geological features in China and Russia are part of a “This Beautiful Earth” Google Earth Tour that I found on the site. Click here to grab the .kmz file and enjoy!

You’re welcome to post the URL to places you’ve found in the comments section. Just go to the “add” menu item to add a placemark in Google Earth. Then upload the .kmz file somewhere on the ‘net so we can grab it. C’mon, share them with us!

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