Straight on, then left at base camp: Try virtual mountain exploration with Google Map's latest operation
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Your support makes all the difference.If you've always wanted to explore some of Earth's highest peaks but lack the willingness to actually, like, climb a mountain, then you might be interested to hear about Google Map's latest operation.
This week the internet giant added the ability to virtually explore four mountains, including Aconcagua (South America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe) and Everest Base Camp (Asia), to their Street View.
Dan Fredinburg, who boasts the job title "Google adventurer", travelled to four of the Seven Summits (those are the tallest peaks on each continent) along with colleagues and friends to capture the views with fisheye lenses. The extra equipment they were required to take "definitely add[ed] to the challenge of the expedition", Fredinburg told The Atlantic. And the reason they only managed Everest base camp was because conditions were too rough for them to continue.
The footage gathered allows you to experience the scenes in a more interactive way than regular photography allows. And you won't have to worry about the risk of avalanches, rock slides or frostbite to enjoy it.
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