15 Amazing Google Earth Finds

Dubbed the "Badlands Guardian" by locals, this geological marvel (Google Earth coordinates 50.010083,-110.113006) in Alberta, Canada, bears an uncanny resemblance to a human head wearing a full Native American headdress--and earphones, to boot. Of course,
The Guardian was produced naturally. (Link Photo)

A synthetic wonder that can be truly appreciated only from above, this giant man-shaped lake (-21.805149,-49.089977) is located near Bauru, Brazil. (Link)

This heart-shaped island in the Adriatic became a hit on Google Earth for Valentine's Day. The uninhabited island is only 130,000 square yards and is called Galesnjak. The owner didn't even know how perfectly this island off the Croatian coast was until he was swamped with requests from couples to stay there. (Link Photo)

This fingerprint can be found in Hove Park, near Brighton and Hove in the UK. It measures 38 metres around. Imagine the size of the hand. (Link)

Rhett Dashwood, a graphic designer from Australia, created the first Google Maps alphabet, featuring all 26 letters, using satellite images of natural features and buildings. (Link)

Lion, at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo located at Whipsnade, near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England. (Link)

Some of the sights you find in Google Earth are just plain mysterious. For example, why is a fighter jet parked (Google Earth coordinates 48.825183,2.1985795) in what looks to be a residential neighborhood lot near Paris? NOTE: our reader Guilhem told us it "must be located at a Dassault Système office. It's an old Mirage and I know for a fact that there is a Dassault office there", while another reader, Roland, argues "it's a full scale model of a Mirage 2000 on a campus of the university of Paris Photo

This is a US Navy building in Coronado, Ca. that was unintentionally built in the shape of a swastika. Now, because of a public uproar, the Navy will be spending $600,000 to alter the shape of the building.(Link)

In the early days of Firefox, a few devoted fans wanted to generate more PR for their beloved site and so gathered a team of people in Amity, Oregon, to recreate the Firefox logo in a field; their very own fox crop. (Link)

Last year, one of the Google Earth Community members called 'ear1grey' posted an amazing discovery. He found a huge picture (36 miles tall) of Santa! (Link)

So here's a giant Ipod Shuffle! It looks like a farmer's field with a horse pen or something on it? Either that or a hard core apple enthusiast. Unfortunately, it looks like he moved the pen on the map since it was first spotted.

Google Earth doesn't have advertising, unless you consider the corporate logos and trademarks big enough to be seen from space. Check out this massive Coca-Cola logo (-18.529225,-70.25002) etched into a hillside of Chile with 70,000 Coke bottles. Haven't they heard of recycling? (Link)

As if Oprah Winfrey's celebrity weren't already big enough, an Arizona farmer built a 10-acre homage to the talk show host (Google Earth coordinates 33.225488,-111.5955). (Link)

Too late now, huh? (Link)

It's not safe to do topless in your roof anymore. One careless sunbath and you can end in everyone else's computer screen. (Link)

Picnic On the Bridge - Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour Bridge was turned into a picnic en masse yesterday as thousands flocked to the world famous landmark to share breakfast. On most mornings, the bridge is packed with the vehicles of thousands of busy commuters driving bumper to bumper trying to make it to work in the rush-hour traffic. But this morning it was closed to traffic and instead transformed into a huge gathering for an al fresco breakfast as part of a city-wide food festival. Around 6,000 people were invited to lay siege on the grassy banks in the middle of the highway.

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

The aerial view of the bridge a scene like never before with freshly laid grass, grazing cows and hundreds of families enjoying a picnic breakfast. The forecast rain was thankfully held off and people turned out to enjoy croissants, sausages, bacon eggs and coffee - with a stunning view across the water to the Opera House. Many who were not among the lucky ticket-holders drawn from a ballot of 190,000 people to take part in the unique gathering still turned up at each end of the bridge.

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

They gaze at the spectacle of cows grazing on 10,000 square yards of turfed grass that had been laid over the tarmac. 'It's the most extraordinary sight,' said Rhonda Williams, 21, a backpacker from Bath, Somerset. 'I've been taking pictures all around Sydney in the past couple of weeks and like everyone else I've taken dozens of photos of the bridge.

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

It was such a historic event that local man Sid Elias used the occasion to propose to his girlfriend.
And they have agreed that if the 'Breakfast on the Bridge' became an annual event they'll return each time. The cows had been transported in from an outlying agricultural college and seemed unperturbed by their lofty surroundings over the harbour as they tucked into the grass and hay.
To add to the occasion, musicians strolled among the families - who included one couple who brought their four-week-old baby along - playing accordions and trumpets, while a honky-tonk piano player bashed out happy melodies. New South Wales government officials estimated the cost of laying on the unique event cost around £400,000 - but agreed it was worth it.

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image

The state's premier, Mr Nathan Rees, said Breakfast on the Bridge was likely to become an annual event. 'It's worth a great deal in tourism dollars,' he said.'Everyone's been having a ball.'
Strolling across the grass, commuter Don Fuchs said: 'It's amazing to see the bridge in this perspective. 'Usually you sit in the car, you cross the bridge and that's it.' The breakfast was part of the Crave festival, one month of food, art, comedy and outdoor fun, which runs until next Saturday.

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters
Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters
Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

Via : Link

Photo EPA/AFP/Getty Image/Reuters

Tsaparang and the Lost Kingdom of Tibet

Tsaparang, the ancient capital of the Guge kingdom holds a special significance for the lovers of history. Situated in the Garuda Valley of Western Tibet’s Ngari Province, this lost kingdom [Vid] extended between modern Ladakh border and the upper Sutlej River. It lies approximately 26 kilometers west of the Thöling monastery, 278 kilometers west of Ali and in close proximity of the sacred Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. What is eye-catching about Tsaparang is the large fort built on a 500-600 feet high pyramidal rock.

Photo from www.tibetreis.com

If you observe this rock closely, you can detect the presence of labyrinthine caves and tunnels dug onto it. It is speculated that in ancient times, there were two public temples the Lhakhang Karpo (White Chapel) and the Lhakhang Marpo (Red Chapel) accessed by the commoners inhabiting a village near its base. There are a set of serpentine tunnel staircases leading to the monks’ quarters and the royal quarters with increasing height with the summer palace poised at the top.

Photo from www.tibetreis.com

Photo from www.tibetreis.com

Historical accounts say that after the assassination of the anti-Buddhist Tibetan king Langdharma in the 9th century, one of his two sons named Namde Wosung had established Tsaparang as the Guge capital. Other accounts claim that Guge came into prominence when Langdharma’s grandson Nyima Gon fled to Western Tibet and subsequently distributed his kingdom among his descendents by the names of Maryul (modern Ladakh), Purang and Guge. Soon Guge acquired a powerful position by 10th century CE when it started controlling the India-Tibet trade route.

Guge Landscape / Photo from superboggly

Tsaparang along with Tholing came into existence with the reintroduction of Buddhism in Western Tibet by King Yeshe O in the 11th century. The power and prosperity of the Guge Kingdom was felt far and wide and was visited by the missionaries Manuel Marques and Antonio de Andrade in 1624. The church that you find at the foot of the Tsaparang citadel was built by them. With missionary activities rising in subsequent times, Tsaparang was captured by the Muslim besiegers sent by the Ladakh king. Although they defaced Guge Empire, some of the most captivating frescos of Tsaparang have remained intact.

Photo from www.tibetreis.com

Photo from www.tibetreis.com

What puzzles modern tourists and researchers of Guge, is why this once lively empire, inhabiting at least by 10,000 people has left behind no descendents at all. Could the 1650’s Ladakhi invasion followed by that of the Red Guards of the Chinese Cultural Revolution have completely wiped out the tunnel residents of the Tsaparang dwellings? Today you can visit Tsaparang as a Tibetan tourist spot and come across an excess of interesting facts and clues about Tsaparang that the pages of history do not provide.

Photo from www.tibetreis.com

Photo from www.tibtreis.com

The average buildings of the conical rock over which the ruined citadel of Tsaparang is situated, are carved out of rocks and mud brick. The chapels along the winding path to Tsaparang have stood against the ravages of time and stand out distinctly from the surrounding ruins. The Guge temples containing a wealth of statues were destroyed indiscriminately by the Chinese Red Guards in 1967. Thankfully, just before that in 1948, the German Buddhist monk Lama Govinda and his wife had visited Tsaparang and photographed the temples in their untouched glory.

Photo from himmies757

Photo from mckaymc

Along with the Red and White Temples, the smaller temple called Dorje Jigje Lhakhang in Tsaparang and the Tibetan Buddhist Rinchen Zangpo in Tholing are remarkable for their intricate geometric hand-painted patterns. All the three holy abodes are bedecked with a range of natural and imaginary deities that look beautiful despite the notorious vandalism. The 14,000 feet climb to the fortress on top calls for real fortitude, but when you actually go through it and explore the handiworks of the ancient Guge artists with a flashlight, the hard work seems to pay.

Photo from ddefranza