Archive for April 24th, 2005

Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

The Manicouagan Impact Crater

Sunday, 24th April 2005 by Alex

Wow. The Manicouagan impact crater is huge. Apparently it’s one of the largest impact craters still preserved on the surface of the Earth, and was formed during a tremendous impact about 200 million years ago. The annular lake that shows the perimeter is 70 kilometers (43 miles) in diameter. Solarviews.com says:

Although the original rim has been removed, the distribution of shock metamorphic effects and morphological comparisons with other impact structures indicates an original rim diameter of approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles).

Manicouagan Impact Crater

Thanks to Mike Scher, Philippe, Keith, Stuart Reid, Andy M, Markus and many others.

Calgary Tower

by Alex

This is Calgary Tower in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At 190 metres, slightly taller than the Space Needle, so I’m told.

Calgary Tower

Thanks to Jordon and Jonathan Wilkins.

Naval Air Station, Alameda

by James

The runways are painted like a street at the former Naval Air Station at Alameda, CA to create a temporary freeway built for the big chase in The Matrix: Reloaded. There’s also some ground level shots of the freeways construction (scroll down to “behind the scenes”).

Matrix

Thanks: Dan Wood & Tim Smith

Crater Lake

by James

Oregon’s spectacular Crater Lake is (at its deepest) 1,932 feet deep — the deepest lake in the United States. The lake is in a volcanic caldera that was formed 6900 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. You can also see the lake’s Wizard Island in this photo.

Crater Lake

Thanks: Jim Heid