Image and terrain update for Google Earth

A bunch of new image and terrain data has been added to Google Earth today. Rather than tell us exactly what’s been added, Google’s decided to tease us. Here is what they’re saying has been updated:

• Two states known for their majestic peaks have gotten an upgrade.
  • Colorado (KML) and Nevada (KML)
• I can now see where my favorite maple syrup is made.
  • Vermont (KML)
• Certain Florida beaches (and 1 mountain) are looking much improved.
  • Possibly Ft. Lauderdale (KML). The “mountain” refers to Space Mountain at Disney World (KML)
• Try counting the warthogs in the Boneyard.
  • “The Boneyard” is an aircraft storage facility in Tucson, AZ, next to Davis-Monthan AFB (KML)
• Peek inside the home of the Brew Crew.
  • Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, is shown with its retractable roof partially open, allowing a “peek inside” (KML)
• You can read the Skin’s logo painted on their field.
  • FedEx field (and much of Washington DC) is improved (KML)
• An historic state capitol building is now in high res.
  • Frankfort, Kentucky (KML)
• This city was named after the Native American name of a nearby mountain, “Tacobet.”
  • Tacoma, WA (KML), with the mountain in question being Mt. Rainier (KML)
• A “far away” city that played a key role in trans-Saharan trade can now be seen close up.
  • Tombouctou in Mali, Africa (KML)
• The town where Jane Austen spent her final years is much clearer.
  • Winchester, Hampshire, UK (KML)
• The topic of Vincent van Gogh’s Cafe Terrace at Night is now bright as day.
  • It was called Café Terrace, now known as Café van Gogh (KML)
• Take a look at “la ville noir,” where Cointreau was invented.
  • Angers, France (KML)
• Only a third of this country’s land is arable, but you can now view the entire country in high res.
  • Italy (KML)
• From 1880 to 1884 this German city was home to the world’s tallest building.
  • Answer: The Cologne Cathedral (KML)
• Rockets may be used to disrupt rain clouds over this city next summer.
  • Beijing, China — For the 2008 Summer Olympics (KML)
• This country received an impressive terrain update, you might call it Lord of the Terrain.
  • New Zealand (KML)

They’ll be releasing full details in a few days, but they want their users (like you) to try to figure it out first. We’re not 100% sure about all of these, so let us know if you think any are wrong.

Also, people have been reporting other areas that appear to have been updated. So far those include:

• Moscow and the Virgin Islands (via Google Earth Blog)
• Ottawa, Ontario
• Maracaibo, Venezuela
• Bardejov in Slovakia
• Slovak-Hungarian border south of Roznava
• a long strip in northern Poland, from Jastrzebia Góra to Laskowice
• Various areas in France (via Virtual Globetrotting)
• Clermont-Ferrand, France
• Strasbourg, France
• Pembroke Pines, Florida
• Sousse and El Jem, Tunisia
• Padova (Italy), Chatham Island and Auckland Island
• Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• North Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland and large adjacent sea area
• Lusaka, Zambia
• Livingstone, Zambia
• Scarborough, UK
• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
• All of England except for the Isles of Scilly
• Areas in North Korea
• Large portions on Melbourne, Australia
• Shanghai and some parts of Hong Kong

If you know of others, leave a comment below and we’ll add it to the list!

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Tagged as: Google Earth, imagery, terrain, update