Where On Google Earth (WOGE) #604

In WOGE 603, Jessica Ball (@tuff_cookie) took us to the Harrat Rahat basaltic lava field near Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Here is WOGE 604:

Where on Google Earth #604

For those new to the game, the rules are simple. An image from Google Earth is posted (with north arrow and scale bar, scale bar recommended to be between 1-5 km in length). Participants then attempt to locate the image without using a reverse image search. The first to comment with the coordinates and a brief description of the interesting geology/hydrology/etc. wins, and chooses the next image, hosted on their blog or in concert with a blog-holding individual (such as myself). A KML with previous locations (through 589) is available here.

Schott Rule: In order to avoid the experienced players from unfairly dominating the game, previous winners must wait 1 hour from the original posting time for each previous win. If you’ve never won before, go ahead and search away!

Good luck!

Hint 1, 0715z 2020-01-28: This location is in the Eastern hemisphere.
Hint 2, 2100z 2020-02-07: This location is in Europe (<40° E).

Where on Google Earth (WOGE) #602

It has been quite a while since the last Where on Google Earth (WOGE), and sadly the founder, Ron Schott, has passed away in the interim. One of the other leading blogs, which had hosted the rules and KML with previously-used locations, has been turned off as well. However, on the suggestion of @tuff_cookie, I will attempt to restart it.

From what I remember, we had passed WOGE 600, and ended around 601. I am restarting at 602, and have managed to find a copy of the WOGE KML which goes through 589 (original, copy).

For those new to the game, the rules are simple. An image from Google Earth is posted (with north arrow and scale bar, scale bar recommended to be between 1-5 km in length). Participants then attempt to locate the image without using a reverse image search. The first to comment with the coordinates and a brief description of the interesting geology/hydrology/etc. wins, and chooses the next image, hosted on their blog or in concert with a blog-holding individual (such as myself).

Here is WOGE 602!

Where on Google Earth #602

Good luck!

Where on Google Earth #598

In WOGE 597, Stephanie showed us active sand dunes on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

Now we leave the glacial plains behind and head for the hills.

Find the location, and leave a comment describing the important geology/hydrology/etc. of the scene. The person to leave the first correct location/comment gets to host the next WOGE.

Complete rules, hints, and a kmz file of previous locations can be found on Felix’s blog.

To the End of the Earth

The end of the Earth. Image credit: NASA (public domain), modified by Bill Mitchell (CC-BY).

This post written March 6, 2016.

When I was in elementary school, we learned that the opposite point on the globe from the Twin Cities was in the southern Indian Ocean, far from any land. I thought to myself: it would be interesting to go to the opposite point on Earth [ed: the scientific term is antipode], but given that it’s in the middle of a vast ocean with nothing of note nearby, I’ll never see that spot.

Yet, now I am going there, the antipode of the Twin Cities, passing it on the way from Heard Island to Australia. This is as far away from home as it is possible to be without going to space. I have reached the end of the Earth, literally.

You can see that end of the Earth in the image above, taken by astronauts on the space shuttle while they were over (roughly) the antipode of the Twin Cities, at roughly the time I was thinking it would be interesting to go there.

Welcome!

Welcome to The Inquisitive Rockhopper!

Named after rockhopper penguins, which are naturally inquisitive, the title plays on the author’s affinity to hop about on rocky outcrops admiring the geology.

This draw to neat rocks has extended so far that I am going on the Heard Island Expedition to (you guessed it!) Heard Island in November and December of 2015 March and April, 2016. While there I will do some science—perhaps assisting with a population survey of rockhopper penguins and other birds—as well as lots of ham radio as VK0EK.

On this blog I intend to cover a review of the scientific knowledge so far acquired on or about Heard Island, what I hope to accomplish while I’m there, and what some of the challenges are associated with this expedition. I am also on Twitter as @i_rockhopper.

Update 5/13/2015: Expedition has been rescheduled for March/April, 2016. More info here (my blog) and here (official).