Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Straight on, then left at base camp: Try virtual mountain exploration with Google Map's latest operation

 

Gillian Orr
Tuesday 19 March 2013 19:45 GMT
Comments
This week the internet giant added the ability to virtually explore four mountains, including Aconcagua (South America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe) and Everest Base Camp (Asia), to their Street View
This week the internet giant added the ability to virtually explore four mountains, including Aconcagua (South America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe) and Everest Base Camp (Asia), to their Street View

If you've always wanted to explore some of Earth's highest peaks but lack the willingness to actually, like, climb a mountain, then you might be interested to hear about Google Map's latest operation.

This week the internet giant added the ability to virtually explore four mountains, including Aconcagua (South America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe) and Everest Base Camp (Asia), to their Street View.

Dan Fredinburg, who boasts the job title "Google adventurer", travelled to four of the Seven Summits (those are the tallest peaks on each continent) along with colleagues and friends to capture the views with fisheye lenses. The extra equipment they were required to take "definitely add[ed] to the challenge of the expedition", Fredinburg told The Atlantic. And the reason they only managed Everest base camp was because conditions were too rough for them to continue.

The footage gathered allows you to experience the scenes in a more interactive way than regular photography allows. And you won't have to worry about the risk of avalanches, rock slides or frostbite to enjoy it.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in