Archive for August 31st, 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

Plaza Mayor

Wednesday, 31st August 2005 by James

Madrid’s Plaza Mayor is a square completely enclosed in buildings, which makes it look very odd from above. Hidden from the surrounding streets, the square is accessed through archways and was historically the site of executions, tournaments, weddings, bullfights and inquisition trials.

Thanks: VincentD

Hurricane Katrina

by Alex

Hurricane Katrina has torn through the United States causing untold damage and horrendous loss of life. Katrina has destroyed the eastern part of the I-10 bridge over Lake Pontchartrain (shown here before it was damaged), flooded 80 percent of New Orleans, and damaged the roof of largest domed structure in the world, the Louisiana Superdome.

Interstate 10

The worst affected states, by this, the third most intense system to strike the United States in recorded history, are Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. It is believed that Katrina is, (in monetary terms) the most costly hurricane to affect the USA, and sadly may yet also become the most costly in terms of human lives.

For more information about these events, I recommend the Wikipedia page on Hurricane Katrina, which is updated continually as information becomes available.