Using Google Maps to Follow Darwin

http://www.google.com/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/galapagos-islands/

Last Friday, September 13, 2013, Google didn’t have a doodle.  What it did have was a link under the search box to follow Charles Darwin’s voyage through the Galapagos archipelago.

There are a couple of YouTube videos that give you an overview of what the project was about and what they did–and some of the exploration!

There has been a lot of recent concern about tourism destroying the Galapagos.  This might actually be better than going there in person!  One-you don’t damage the environment and you’re not bringing in any contaminants.  Two-you may not be able to see everything that’s there.  For example, I can’t go diving, but this allows me to explore underwater too!  Three-even if you go, you don’t always get to see everything you want to, and the wildlife doesn’t always cooperate (like the initially shy dinosaurs in Jurassic Park).

Even though there are definite pluses to digital travelling, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to go!  Field trip? I wish!

One Comment Add yours

  1. Jamie says:

    Wow! The video was amazing. It makes me want to jump on a plane and head there now. It is such an amazing place and it needs to be preserved and helped maintained now that people visit the islands often. Seeing animals in their natural environment living so freely is an amazing sight to see. I think this video will help educate people on the different wildlife that lives there on the islands. It was really neat how google did street views of the island, so it was like you were there looking around.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *