What is Google Earth?

Google Earth is much more than just a mapping software. It's a tool for viewing, creating and sharing location-specific information which can be explored in an interactive and visually intuitive interface.

Google Earth gives you a wealth of imagery and geographic information. Explore destinations like Maui and Paris, or browse content from Wikipedia, National Geographic, and more.

" Google Earth features satellite imagery of the entire planet, and like Google Maps, it integrates Google search results right onto the globe. It allows you to zoom from space right down to your city, take a virtual tour of the globe, or share what you've found by utilizing the XML data exchange system, KML. "

Zoom from space to street level — tour the world
Find maps, driving directions, hotels, restaurants, and more
Fly to your house. Just type in an address, press Search, and you’ll zoom right in.
Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings.
Save and share your searches and favorites.

One of the most useful features is layers, which show users restaurants, banks, bars, gas stations, hospitals, and more in the area, all with a single click. You can add or remove layers to suit your search. Google Earth will even display crime statistics, congressional districts, or postal code boundaries for a given zone.

" The tour feature allows you to bookmark and append your own descriptions to numerous places all over the globe, then fly between them with the earth spinning below--a very cool and quite addictive effect. Google Earth also features 3D terrain mapping, which is stunning at places such as the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon, allowing users to see the contours of the land. Google has added 3D buildings in major U.S. cities, which offers a far richer 3D experience than the terrain alone. And best of all, Google Earth is free. "

Explore the world's ancient ruins, search for your next summit route, discover the awesome power of our planet!