SMART NEWS

Google Street View Goes to the Galapagos

Follow in Darwin’s footsteps, starting on San Cristobal Island and then venturing to Floreana Island and North Seymour Island

Rachel Nuwer

September 13, 2013

Last May, Google sent 13 camera-equipped researchers to capture the beauty of the Galapagos Islands, both on land and in the surrounding sea. Now, Google has unveiled the results: the newest addition to Street View is a tour of the islands Darwin made famous after he first visited them, 178 years ago this week.

The researchers set about following in the famous biologist’s footsteps, starting on San Cristobal Island and then venturing to Floreana Island and North Seymour Island. Here’s a starting point for exploring the islands:

Google’s LatLong Blog explains that, more than beautiful imagery, the project aims to give scientists a much-needed research boost:

The extensive Street View imagery of the Galapagos Islands will not only allow armchair travellers to experiences the islands from their desktop computer, but it will also play an instrumental role in the ongoing research of the environment, conservation, animal migration patterns, and the impact of tourism on the islands.

Those who wish to get involved in the science themselves can check out the citizens science program Darwin for a Day, which Google and its Galapagos partners developed to help identify the multitude of plants and animals caught on camera during the filming of Street View.