King’s Outdoor World Blog

Must Get Google Earth

January 16th, 2006 David King - King's Outdoor World

Screen shot of the Grand Canyon using Google Earth

If you have not heard of Google Earth yet, then you have been missing out. Google Earth has been in Beta for some time now, but they have just released the official version a few days ago. For you Mac users, there is good news as they also have released a Mac version as well.

What is Google Earth? It is a Free program that you can download and have access to satellite imagery anywhere in the world. This is not just basic imagery. Google has put together an incredible program that even in the free version, it gives you unbelievable access and features of your favorite area. Want to know how steep a ridge is on a new area you are thinking of hunting next fall. Check it out in Google Earth. Want to see New York City with all of the buildings in great detail? Google Earth has it.

I used Google Earth to help me scout areas for my goat hunt last September. Here is what Google has to say about it:

Google Earth streams the world over wired and wireless networks enabling users to virtually go anywhere on the planet and see places in photographic detail. This is not like any map you have ever seen. This is a 3D model of the real world, based on real satellite images combined with maps, guides to restaurants, hotels, entertainment, businesses and more. You can zoom from space to street level instantly and then pan or jump from place to place, city to city, even country to country.

Google Earth is technology at its finest. The only drawback is that you must have a newer computer and basic broadband internet connection to run it properly. All of the data is being streamed in real-time over the internet. Not all locations are as clear as others. Certain locations have high definition imagery which is unbelievably clear. I was checking out Bahgdad in Iraq the other day and I could see the bottom of the river and the cars on the road. To see what areas in North America that have high definition, click here.

One of coolest things that you can do with this program is share locations and “fly throughs” with other people who have the program as well. Mark some of your favorite locations and save the file and email it to your buddy. Scouting out a new area? Plot it out on Google Earth and save the points, then email the file to your hunting party and they will be able to see the locations you have plotted out.

I have set up an example here as I have saved out a .kmz file (Goolge Earth file format) for the location to King’s Outdoor World. First, go to Google Earth and download and install the program. After installation, come back here and download this file to your desktop. Once downloaded simply double click Kings Outdoor World.kmz and it will open up automatically in Google Earth.

Google Earth Web Site
Google Earth Product Tour
Sample location file of King’s Outdoor World Headquarters (Kings Outdoor World.kmz) 684 KB

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