Google Earth has uncovered some fascinating and strange sights around the world, from hidden military bases to mysterious symbols.
Here’s a countdown of the 27 weirdest things ever spotted using satellite imagery.
1. Vostok Island (Blacked-Out Island)
Vostok Island in the Pacific Ocean looks like a black hole on Google Earth. It’s covered with dense Pisonia grandis trees, which appear pitch black from above.
2. Aircraft Boneyard in Arizona
The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona stores thousands of retired military planes, visible in incredible detail on Google Earth.
3. China’s Panda-Shaped Solar Farm
A solar farm in Datong, China, shaped like a giant panda, promotes clean energy and can be seen on Google Maps.
4. Coca-Cola Logo in Chile
The world’s largest Coca-Cola logo, made from empty bottles, is etched into a hillside in Chile.
5. Spiral Art Installation in Egypt
The “Desert Breath” art installation near the Red Sea forms a giant spiral in the sand, covering 1 million square feet.
6. Herd of Elephants in Chad
Google Earth captured a herd of wild elephants moving through Chad, offering a rare satellite view of African wildlife.
7. Hamad’s Name Carved into Sand
A billionaire in Abu Dhabi etched his name, “HAMAD,” into the sand of his private island, large enough to be seen from space.
8. Land Lips in Sudan
In Darfur, Sudan, a hill formation looks like a pair of lips when viewed from above.
9. KFC Logo in Nevada
A giant KFC logo once appeared in Nevada as an advertisement, but it has since been removed.
10. Patterns in China’s Gobi Desert
Mysterious shapes in China’s desert are thought to be part of a secret military testing site, possibly for radar or satellite calibration.
11. S.S. Jassim Shipwreck
The wreck of a Bolivian ferry near Sudan is visible from space. It’s one of the largest shipwrecks seen on Google Earth.
12. Pentagram in Kazakhstan
A giant pentagram etched into the ground in Kazakhstan is actually the outline of a star-shaped park lined with trees.
13. Blood-Red Lake in Iraq
A lake near Sadr City appears blood-red on satellite images. Its strange color has no confirmed explanation.
14. Phantom Sandy Island near New Caledonia
Once marked on maps, Sandy Island turned out to be open water when researchers visited in 2012. It was likely a mapping error.
15. Triangle UFO in Australia
A triangle with bright lights seen in Australia sparked UFO rumors. It’s likely an antenna related to a nearby wind farm.
16. Wheel Structures in Jordan’s Azraq Oasis
These ancient “wheels” etched into the ground are over 8,500 years old. Some align with the sunrise during the winter solstice.
17. Mount Lico’s Hidden Rainforest
A rainforest sits atop Mount Lico in Mozambique, discovered through Google Earth. Few humans have ever visited it.
18. Scientology Bunker in New Mexico
Two large symbols etched into the ground in New Mexico are believed to mark a secret Scientology bunker.
19. Swastika-Shaped Geoglyphs in Kazakhstan
Over 50 geoglyphs, including a swastika made of timber, were discovered in Kazakhstan. These designs, created 2,000 years ago, have no connection to modern political meanings.
20. Island in a Lake on an Island in a lake on an island in the ocean in the Philippines
Volcano Island in Taal Lake on Luzon has a tiny island inside a lake, which sits on yet another island. It’s a true geographical puzzle.
21. Bull’s-Eye Wheel Structures in Saudi Arabia
Certain wheel structures in Saudi Arabia have a “bull’s-eye” design with triangles pointing toward the center. These might have been ancient tombs.
22. Unexcavated Pyramid in Egypt
Satellite images show mysterious shapes in Egypt, possibly hidden pyramids. Scientists debate whether they’re natural formations or man-made structures.
23. Abandoned Missile Launch Sites in Hawaii
During the Cold War, Hawaii had open-air missile launch sites. Now abandoned, these sites can still be seen on Google Earth.
24. Looting Holes in Apamea, Syria
Satellite images show ancient Roman ruins in Syria riddled with holes dug by looters during the civil war.
25. Polka-Dot Pattern in the Grand Canyon
Near a volcano in the Grand Canyon, red harvester ants create circular mounds that look like polka dots from above.
26. Island in a Lake on an Island in Canada
A small island in northern Canada sits within a lake, inside another island. It’s believed no human has ever set foot there.
27. Secret Base near Kashgar, China
A strange site near Kashgar in China caused speculation of a secret military base, but experts believe it’s an industrial center.
These unusual discoveries show just how much of our planet remains fascinating, mysterious, and surprising!