Google Earth - Explore, Search and Discover

Virtual Geography - Google Earth

I have a confession to make. As far back as I can remember I have been one of those freaks who really love Geography. Growing up I was always reading about far away places, like Antarctica, Iceland and the Falkland Islands. I dreamed of seeing the world and all it has to offer - firsthand. I'm thrilled to meet people from foreign countries. I enjoy pumping them for details and hearing tidbits about their native land, not the ordinary things but how the people live and their customs and culture. I find it simply facinating.

That is partially why I am simply captivated by Google Earth, a program my husband shared with me. He is always sending me links to new search engines and resources. This one simply blew me away. The download and installation was fast and easy (on DSL), after which we spent hours exploring our world. The program won't allow you to talk to people around the world (yet). However, if you have any interest in topography, this program will delight you.

Fun With KML

Be sure to have Google Earth installed prior to clicking the link below.

This simple example of a KML file describes several points of interest into our own lives, and a very basic example of one of the features of KML files. Other ways you can use them include mapping (of course!) to provide details about destinations and directions to and from various locations, icons pointing to your business and appropriate links within the descriptions.

It was once appropriate for every business website with a brick and mortar location to include a link to a MapQuest map of their location. Will it now become necessary to provide KML links as well? Time will tell.

KML Files from USGS

Display real-time earthquakes in Google Earth. Google Earth is an interactive, 3D viewer that seamlessly zooms from a global scale down to less than a meter in many urban areas. To display earthquakes, download one of the KML files and open it in Google Earth.

Earthquakes, past seven days (colored by age - 325 kB)

Earthquakes, past seven days (colored by depth - 325 kB)

Google Earth is a new application, which combines local search capabilities with satellite imaging and maps from around the globe. Google offers a free version, not a trial, but a full-version, available to the masses. Google Earth Plus is an optional upgrade adding GPS device support, the ability to import spreadsheets, drawing tools and better printing for a cost of $20 per year.

Currently, the application includes detailed imagery of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as many major cities in other countries. The medium to high resolution terrain provides a detailed view of the entire world. The program allows you to "Fly To" aerial views of any location on the planet.

The control console allows you to zoom in many levels, in fact we were able to find our old house in Citrus Heights, CA. The satellite image they used was several years old. From the image it was relatively easy to pinpoint because of the playground equipment, visible from space in our backyard. Our trampoline including the 40-inch soccerball, which was still inside the enclosure and my backyard swing, were all clearly visible on screen. We were totally amazed.

Of course such high resolution wasn't available for every location, unfortunately. However, I will say the view of the Grand Canyon, my first trip out, was incredible.

The "Fly To" feature accepts an address, place name, cross street or simple Latitude/Longitude coordinates and zooms you quickly in to the specified location. Using the the controls at this point allows you to zoom, tilt, pan or rotate the view, for amazing results.

Google Earth provides the option of displaying local lodging, road markers, terrain, local dining options, geographical borders and 3D buildings over the satellite image. I was a little disappointed to find a very limited selection of lodging and dining options for the areas I checked. I assume this will be a selling point for advertisers, perhaps a feature, which will later be tied to Google Adwords.

Even with all the neat tools to play with, what really amazed me the most was that my eight-year-old son came over to check out what I was up to and stayed. He was so interested in Google Earth that he actually took my mouse away from me several times, just so he could "check something out". We had to leave an hour later or he would probably still be playing with it.

Being raised with a computer he's not the easiest child in the world to impress and I couldn't help but notice he was really into playing with Google Earth. The controls were easy for him to understand and manipulate. What a terrific geographical tool for teaching our children about the world around us.

Google Earth Links

I've had several map programs in the past and while this isn't MapQuest, in some ways it's better. Google Earth is an awesome application, blending the best of satellite imagery with Google's search and mapping capabilities.

I'm always on the look out for free programs, which encourage my son to learn more about the world around him. While we've travelled around the country these past few years, we've had terrific opportunities to discuss geography and learn about the various areas we visited. However, if you can't make the trip in person, this is the next best thing to being there.

Most of the reviews have been pretty positive regarding the product, though I was a little dismayed to see one writer respond:

Nice to almost see my house. But: last time I checked, this country was called the Netherlands and our neighbors in the south lived in Belgium. According to G, the names have been swapped ;)

Goggle Earth is still in beta form, we can hope that they will get all the bugs worked out soon. In the meantime I'd like to share some other neat geography tools.

Geography Online

There are many terrific geography programs available online that will allow you to place or name all 50 U.S. States, provide access to outline maps and informative, detailed geographical orientation, which your children will enjoy and keep them entertained for hours. The links below are just a few that my family has found helpful...

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U.S. State Capitals - Learning the state capitals doesn't have to be a bore. Your children can have fun Matching each state with its capital, playing concentration, word search and studying flash cards. Something for every learning style. [Ages 7+]
The USA Quiz - Once your child can read and operate a mouse, he or she is ready for this game. Simply click on the state named in the quiz. This game will not only tell you if you are correct or not but will also show you the name of the state you clicked on. [Ages 7+]
Test your Geography Knowledge - An (untimed) interactive geography world geography quiz. Select a continent then locate each country (allows three tries). See if you can beat mom or dad! [Ages 8-14]
Geo-Globe Interactive Geography! - Explore the world with Geo - Globe's selection of interactive games, and find out about strange and familiar features of the planet! Ever wondered which continent has the most countries? Do you know how deep the ocean gets? How plants survive in the tundra? Which waterfall is the highest in the world? [Ages 10+]
Budget Homeschool - This page provides an extensive list of geography resources, which will provide hours of entainment and educational experiences for children of all ages and adults alike. [Ages 5+]
Hokanson's World Geography Tutorials - Tutorials, interactive matching games, interactive puzzles of the various countries, flash cards, concentration games, fun quizzes on everything geographical in nature. This comprehesive site still has me in awe. I highly recommend Hokanson's World Geography Tutorials. [Ages 7+]
Geography Quizzes - These interactive Quizzes will help you rapidly learn the locations of the countries and capitals of the world. [Ages 9+]
Place the State - An interactive online U.S. puzzle, without state borders. State pieces appear one at a time, use your mouse to drag and drop the piece to its correct position on the map. [Ages 10+]
States and Capitals - Provides details for each state, complete with links to ancestry and genealogy databases, biographies for famous individuals, web cams around the state, and links to historical documents. You will even find a link for all the zip codes within each state. [Ages 8+]
Blank Outline Maps - Free blank outline maps of the countries and continents of the world. Terrific for coloring or creating impressive geographical reports [Ages 4+]
World Navigator - (Available in English and Japanese.) This interactive world atlas includes resource links, and allows you to zoom in, anywhere in the world. The world isn't flat after all. [Ages 8+]
State Report Project - Everything you need here to create your own State Report, as well as amazing facts, games, and images that will make the learning fun. When you finish up, why not try a game or two? [Ages 8-12]
U.S. Map Puzzle - Learn the states of the United States and their capitals with this fun and educational puzzle game. How fast can you put all of the states in the right places? Free Download. [Ages 8-12]
Bible Maps - These Bible study maps come complete with informative descriptions of the time periods, area information and references on the lives of Biblical characters. [Ages 12+]
Earthshots Satellite Images of Environmental Change - An interactive ebook of before-and-after Landsat images (1972-present), showing recent environmental events and introducing remote sensing. Earthshots comes from the U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls S.D., the world's largest archive of earth science data and the official National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive. [Ages 12+]
CIA World Factbook - 20-years of world facts and World Geography from the USA CIA World Factbooks, the United Nations Statistical Office, The Library of Congress Country Studies and other sources. [Ages 12+]
CIA Kid's Page - Central Intelligence Agency for kids provides information about the Nation's intelligence efforts as well as a geography quiz and other fun things for kids to do. Put your skills to the test. See how quickly you can assemble the CIA seal. Find the secret words hidden within the safe. Break the code and discover a special fact about the CIA. (Choose the "Games" button to play.) [Ages 8+]
World Time - World Time is a service featuring an interactive world atlas, providing information on local time as well as sunrise and sunset times in several hundred cities worldwide. [Ages 8+]

Map Reading Skills

Being raised in a family of individuals who seemingly have no natural sense of direction, I've found map reading to be an important skill. So, in our travels I like to have an extra map or two on hand for the kids to navigate with.

I provide the child with a highlighter so that he or she can map out our course ahead of time, they assume the co-pilots seat, in the front next to the driver. Of course the driver has to follow directions carefully, never making a turn unless the navigator directs the driver to do so. (That's the hard part!)

It's fun to let the kids be in charge for awhile, teaching them not only map reading skills but also how to give clear directions. Just be sure to allow extra time for your travels until your navigator perfects his craft. You could end up in some interesting destinations to be sure. Don't forget to fill up the tank. :)

Be sure to pick up a copy of Carschooling to take along in your travels, your children will be glad you did and it could be miles before you hear, "Are we there yet?"

Take a Virtual Vacation

With the hectic lives we all lead today, sometimes a vacation is just the ticket. But what do you do when you simply can't get away? You know how it goes, either you have the time for a vacation, or you have the money for one, it's a rare occasion, when you have both at the same time.

Now you can get away to your own private little beach hide-away, or scale the highest mountain peak, all from the comfort of home. Try one of these virtual trips. Why stay home bored when you can take an exotic vacation for the mind?

These links are the best of the best. I've search high and low for virtual tours that offer spectacular views and I'm not talking simply 360 degree photo's, though I have included a few exceptional ones. If a picture is worth a 1000 words, these sites speak volumes.

Virtual Reality Resources

Virtual Reality is a growing field of technology that fascinates and entertains users for hours. The sites below are for the serious investigator of VR and for those who simply enjoy playing with new toys. If you or your child have an intense interest in learning more about this growing technology, these sites will provide you answers to questions you didn't know you had.

Bio Motion Lab
The Biomotion Lab project of Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany, provides an amazing analysis of the description and synthesis of animate motion patterns. Using computer models to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the information transmitted through biological motion, its perception and underlying neuronal mechanisms. In other words, you can make stick figures come to life with the click of a button. [Suitable for teens.]

Soda Constructor
If making stick figures motivate was cool, this will blow your mind. Look at the fluid, lifelike way these creatures walk and roll and slink across the screen you might think that there must be some very complicated stuff going on behind the scenes. Fear not, it's actually very simple. It only looks complicated because lots of simple bits are working together. [5+.]

Virtual Polyhedra
This site is a free self-contained easy-to-explore tutorial, reference work, and object library for people interested in polyhedra. Polyhedra have an enormous aesthetic appeal and the subject is fun and easy to learn on one's own. [Suitable for teens.]

Active Worlds
Active Worlds Virtual Reality experience, lets you visit and chat in incredible 3D worlds that are built by other users. Think you have what it takes to build your own world or Virtual Reality game? You can create fascinating 3D worlds that others can visit and chat in. [Parental Supervision Advised.]

Updated May 17, 2008