Visit Galapagos Islands With Google Street View

Google’s iconic Street View cameras recently visited Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands – home to the world’s largest tortoises and the place that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Google, in partnership with Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the Galapagos National Parks Directorate (GNPD), sent hikers to the Galapagos Islands during a 10-day stint in an effort to better understand how invasive species, climate change and tourism affect the ecosystem.

Each hiker was equipped with what Google calls a “trekker” – a 42-pound backpack containing specialized computer and camera equipment. On top of the pack is a soccer ball-like orb that contains 15 cameras designed to capture panoramic views of its surroundings.

Raleigh Seamster, Project leader said : “We hiked over trails and even down the crater of an active volcano. And these are islands, so half of the life there is under the water surface. We brought Street View underwater to swim with sea lions, sharks and other marine animals.”

Google is now stitching these images together and all of the panoramic images will be available on Google Maps later this year so people around the world can experience this remote archipelago.

Source: techspot.com, dailymail.co.uk