Did you know that the ‘Official Center of the World’ lies just off of an exit ramp in the middle of the Sonoran Desert of California? It’s true. There’s even a plaque and everything. In 1985, skydiving pioneer/investor/budding children’s author…

The Palliser Triangle is the driest part of the Canadian Prairies, constituting southeast Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan. Settled at the turn of the 20th century by farmers and ranchers, dozens of tiny villages sprung up to support them. While modern farming techniques have helped mitigate the hard times, the exodus of people from the Triangle has been steady for the past few decades, leaving numerous ghost towns listing in the wind.

Who wouldn’t want their own private island to wall themselves off from the rest of the world while enjoying the comforts of wealth and opulence? After all, celebrities do it all the time. Thanks to Google Maps, we can get a glimpse of these water-bound estates and see how the other half live.

Google Maps is on fire! Or at least it seems that way, considering the number of fires Google imagery has captured over the years. Take a journey with us as we travel the globe in search of flames and smoke.

Sivash is the shallow system of lagoons that separates Crimea from mainland Ukraine. Home to large-scale salt deposits, Sivash may just contain the most colourful waters to be found in Google Maps, with ponds of blue, beige and organe readily visible.

For centuries, the port of [Aden][w] has served as Yemen’s gateway to the the world. Its distinctive double harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano. Over the years, a number of wrecked ships have accumulated in Aden’s harbour, many of which are visible in Google Maps imagery.