Use Google Earth and Street View to explore the planet from your couch

Explore the World from Your Couch: A Guide to Google Earth and Street View

For centuries, exploring new places required physical travel. Now, virtual tourism lets you experience global sights from home. Google's tools, Google Earth and Street View, offer unparalleled access to locations worldwide. Both are free and incredibly user-friendly.

Mastering Google Earth

Google Earth, initially a desktop application, is now a robust web application offering 3D interactive views built upon the Google Maps foundation.

Getting started is simple: visit the Google Earth website. You can either launch the application directly or select a pre-planned tour. For independent exploration, use the search bar (magnifying glass icon). The search function is intelligent; searching for "capital of Mongolia" will lead you to Ulaanbaatar.

Navigation is intuitive:

• Click and drag to pan.
• Use the mouse wheel or trackpad to zoom.
• Hold Shift click and drag to tilt or rotate.
• Hold Ctrl click and drag to adjust viewing angle.
• Use the lower-right corner buttons to control zoom and switch between 2D and 3D views.

At high zoom levels, the detail is remarkable, especially in urban areas. Click on place names for more information.

The top-left menu (hamburger icon) provides access to Map Style settings (adjusting detail levels), Voyager tours (pre-made tours), and saved bookmarks. Use the "Add to project" button on place cards to save locations. The "I'm Feeling Lucky" (dice icon) feature randomly selects an interesting location for spontaneous exploration.

Mobile apps for Android and iOS mirror the web interface's functionality, adapting controls for touchscreens.

Unlocking Street View

While Google Earth excels at broad overviews, Street View provides detailed neighborhood exploration. Integrated into Google Maps and Google Earth, Street View is accessed by dragging the Pegman icon (lower-right corner) onto a blue-shaded area (indicating available imagery) on the map.

Navigate using on-screen arrows or keyboard cursor keys. Street View also has a dedicated online portal showcasing diverse locations, from footpaths to mountain peaks.

A unique feature of Google Maps' Street View is historical imagery. The clock icon in the top-left corner of Street View reveals older photos, often dating back a decade or more.

Street View mobile apps allow virtual walks and even the creation and uploading of your own 360° images.

Enjoy your virtual adventures!

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