What did the world do before Google? Well, when they weren't consulting paper maps and asking strangers for directions, Baby Boomers and Generation X'ers just wandered around, lost and bumping into things. In the 21st Century, Google Earth and Google Street View changed all that. As it collected terabytes of data, the trusty old Google Street Van captured some bizarre images and recorded the most unlikely events. So join us as we take you on a tour of the weirdest, most mysterious, spookiest things you'll find on Google Earth.
Bird People Are Real
Sometimes, the Google Streetview Van snaps some downright bizarre imagery as it patrols the world's streets. And it's safe to say that one of the oddest things it's snapped is these people in pigeon masks in Tokyo, Japan. Until now, we thought Bird People were just a thing of science fiction novels and movies. But we guess we were wrong. But imagine driving around the Google Streetview Van and suddenly coming across this crew.
We have a feeling the driver might've needed a few years of therapy after encountering them. But the question is: were they lying in wait for the van, or was it a freak occurrence?
Bread Head
Our next photo comes all the way from Jerusalem's Old Town. It features a skilled bakery delivery man carrying an enormous tray of bread. We can't even balance a cup of water on our heads for more than a second, and this guy is just casually strolling those ancient streets with the most enormous tray we've ever seen on his head. By the looks of it, he probably does this daily. Do you think he's ever dropped it?
While our gut instinct is to think, "Of course, he's dropped it at some point," our detective skills say otherwise; this guy's just too cool and collected carrying that bread. He must be a head-carrying expert.
Ghost Child Chillin' at the Beach
This spooky photo is our farthest-flung entry. It comes from Nauru in Micronesia. If you're unfamiliar, the tiny island nation used to be Pleasant Island and is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. On their travels, the Google Van Driver snapped this chilling picture of the ghost of a child, you know, just chillin' on the beach as ghoulish toddlers do when they're on vacation.
Before you get nightmares about being attacked by ghostly toddlers, the most likely explanation is that this child was missing clothes, so Google's specialists edited it out (in a very creepy way).
We Have a Feeling They Got a Parking Ticket
This jet fighter pilot must have needed a rest, so he parked his plane in a parking lot in Hagen, in Western Germany. But how did he get there? Well, he must have driven his aircraft along the street. And he (or she) is not the first jet pilot to use Germany's roads. That's because while the government recommends a maximum speed of 130 kph (about 80 mph), drivers are free to drive as fast as they like in parts of the de-restricted autobahn (that's Germany's highway system).
Legend says that back in the 1980s or 90s, a wealthy German man exploited this loophole in highway laws by landing his jet plane on the autobahn!
Hide Your Kids - Pennywise Is Back
If you haven't seen the recent versions of Stephen King's It, all you need to do is travel to Montreal, Quebec, in good old Canada. You see, in Canada, Pennywise the Clown doesn't drag kids down into storm drains; he lives in his mom's basement. Or, in this scary-looking copycat's case, judging by the amount of blood on the walls, we should probably say he lives in his late mom's basement.
Personally, we won't be visiting this Canadian town anytime soon. We don't want to end up as Pennywise's next victim. But let us know how it goes if you pay a visit.
Just Another Day in Ireland
Have a guess which part of the world this photo comes from. That's right; it's from Ireland. Belfast, in Northern Ireland, to be exact. And the way to tell was, of course, by the police officers' green uniforms. What? Did you think we would say the giveaway was the two guys rolling around on the driveway? Or the drunk guys cheering as they see the Google Street Van passing?
Or perhaps the intoxicated tough guy who looks like he's about to charge down the Google Street Van but is, in fact, performing a little dance? No, no, only the cops' green uniform gave it away.
This Church Sure Has a Special Shape
From the street level, this church looks like any other ordinary place of worship. But that's not what Google Streetview's drone sees from its vantage point up in the sky. From his point of view, the structure looks like a giant weiner! This oddly-shaped church can be found in Dixon, Illinois, in the good ole US of A. The temple belongs to the Christian Science Church, and local churchgoers are said to be waiting for the second coming.
We wonder if the people who worship here realize what the building is shaped like. We can't imagine that no one in the town caught on and spread the news.
Did Anyone Happen to See Where His Head Went?
Residents of New York City are well used to witnessing strange events like giant rats carrying pizzas through the metro. But this weird image left Brooklyn inhabitants scratching their heads. First, there's this creepy, headless, handless, and footless Invisible Man. Second, is he dancing or hailing a yellow cab? And third, what is that weird mini-submarine/UFO thing doing in the parking lot? This might be a case for NYC's finest: The Ghostbusters.
That's really the only solution when you see a weird headless figure in the middle of New York City. Who else would know how to solve this mystery?
Spotted: Filming for the First Spider-Man/Superman Crossover Movie
For decades, comic book fans have dreamt of a Marvel/DC crossover on the big screen. So these Swedish filmmakers decided to make all our dreams come true! Sparing no expense, the actors, the sound technician, and the cameraman delivered what's sure to be an award-winning Scandinavian masterpiece. We can't wait to see the final result with our own eyes. Will it be playing at select cinemas only? Will it be streaming on Disney+? Or maybe Amazon Prime? So many questions.
On the other hand, this filmmaking foursome might have received a phone call from a friend up the street saying: "Quick, the Google Van is coming; get your superhero costumes on now!"
This House Was Caught in the Middle of Getting Undressed
You've heard of temperatures being so hot that the asphalt melts, right? And you might also be aware that England recently experienced its hottest day ever recorded. As fields and houses in London and around the United Kingdom burned, the record-breaking 40.3 degrees Celsius (104.5 degrees Fahrenheit) heatwave even caused the facade of this house to melt right off its walls. That's right - the house isn't just getting undressed to slip into something comfy; it's falling apart!
Okay, we're joking. This incredible image is actually an art installation in Margate, Kent, east of London. Artist Alex Chinneck created it, and the house was derelict and about to be demolished.
A Killer on the Loose
This photo comes from Turicachi, Mexico, just over an hour's drive from Arizona's US Border. And perhaps this creepy figure is the one who inspired Jim Morrison to write the line: "There's a killer on the road, his brain is squirming like a toad" in The Doors' beloved song "Riders on the Storm." If you saw this terrifying figure, there's only one thing to do: step on the gas and get out of there!
The photo is pretty blurry, but what is that creature holding? Because it looks a bit like a dried lizard. Is that how he ends his victims? Bewitches them with a dried lizard?
Lithuania's Black Ghost
Imagine this: you're visiting Lithuania and out at some local bars. The hour gets late, and you decide to walk back to your hotel. On the way, you choose to take the scenic route by the water. Why not? Well, you soon find out why not: the Grim Reaper is coming out of the water! We'd run away screaming and crying. Okay, so this is a statue, but we bet unknowing visitors have run away from it.
This scary sculpture is called The Black Ghost or Juodasis Vaiduoklis, and it can be found on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Klaipėda, Lithuania. The 2.4 m (7.8 feet) ghostly figure climbs out of the water with its lamp, giving off some seriously spooky vibes.
These Kids Have a Sense of Humor, Don't They?
Now, this next photo shows a very tragic accident. As we can see, one of the people in this picture has just passed away. Okay, that's it; we can't take this any further - it's just not cool when it involves kids. Do not fear; these children seen in South Africa were just fine. They saw the Google Streetview Van and decided to play a prank, as kids do.
One played dead while his friends stood over him with sticks as spears. They sure know how to think on the spot and creep people out; we're guessing these naughty tricksters have scared their parents on more than one occasion!
That Seems Very Safe
While this image from the city of Navotas in the Philippines might look like someone on their way to a child's birthday party, we came up with some more exciting possibilities. Accidents involving scooters are common, so they could have invented their own airbag system. Or they could be trying to go up, up, and away in their beautiful hot air scooter. Or they could just really love popping balloons.
Or they might love Mario Karts so much that they decided to take their virtual high-jinks out of their home and onto the streets!
It's Raining Trucks
We can't believe Google Streetview Van, or maybe the drone happened to be in this spot right as this truck had a supernatural accident. Who knew the laws of physics would even allow for a truck to crash and end up in this position? Or maybe it's raining trucks? Okay, fine, we'll tell you the truth about what's happening here. Though it might look like this truck fell from the sky and landed in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, USA, that's not the case.
Nor did the driver of the ten-wheeled behemoth have to park his rig in a tiny, square parking space. The truck is, in fact, a permanent advertisement for a truck supply company.
Ma'am, This Is Not a Swimming Pool
This photo comes from a bridge called the Ponte de Ravedis over a river in the north of Italy. At first glance, the poor, bikini-clad sunbather looks so hot that she's melted into the concrete. But upon further inspection, we think she might've passed out from the heat and is dangerously being dragged into the water by the current. We hope someone rescued her in time! We guess it's lucky Google Streetview was there in time; maybe they called for help.
Don't worry; the elongated lady is not really melting, nor is she being dragged into the water. She's actually a piece of chalk graffiti. That's right - that's someone's art, not an actual human.
We're Sure Their Neighbors Love Them
Gardens tend to be lovely, idyllic places. There's the Garden of Eden, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Garden of Europe, which bursts into life with millions of Dutch tulips every spring. And then there's the Garden Of The Un-Living in Sabile, Latvia. As you can see, one unique family has littered their front yard with dozens upon dozens of creepy mannequins for your entertainment and unbridled terror!
Who knows what possesses people to do such things? Maybe they're just huge fans of HBO's The Leftovers. You'll need to watch it to get the reference, and you won't be disappointed; it's one of the greatest TV shows ever made.
A Portal to Another Dimension Opened up in the Sky
This photo has become known as The Black Hole In The Sky, and it was taken in Stuart, Florida, USA. Florida is famous for many weird occurrences, including nudist golf resorts, puppeteer cannibals, and the famous Florida Man. But one thing The Sunshine State isn't renowned for is its interstellar wormholes. Until now, that is. Clearly, there's a portal to another dimension in Florida's skies. We're sure scientists have already made their way over there in droves.
Okay, so the truth is that the dark hexagonal shape probably comes from the aperture of a camera. So, while we're sorry to debunk an occurrence of cosmological importance, someone's got to tell the truth, and it might as well be us.
For a Moment There We Thought We Were Looking at Aliens
What the devil are these two visions in red up to? Did they escape from hell? Did they run away from the circus? Did they come from another planet? Did they download a new disco-themed fitness app to help them jog through parks? Or are they on their way home after a heavy night out on the town? The latter is the most likely, as Dublin is famous for hosting raucous stag nights and hen parties, and that's where this image was captured.
Thousands flock to Dublin for an unforgettable night out on the Guinness. Europe's other top stag and hen destinations include Tallinn in Estonia and Riga in Latvia, but you won't find these scarlet beauties there!
Seconds Before Disaster Struck
Yes, this really happened. As the Streetview van passed an address in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, this pair was caught playing a dangerous game of "shoot the apple on your son's head." But do you think these guys were genuinely performing their bow and arrow target practice? Or did they hear the van and rush into position for a well-timed gag? It certainly looks like dad is ready to let a real arrow go speeding toward his son's head.
This is why we've titled this snapshot "Seconds before disaster struck." Goodness, we hope dad has good aim. Otherwise, his son's head might've ended up squished like a cartoon character.
They Say the Dolls Come Alive at Night
If you're driving through Miyoshi Doll Village in Japan's southern Tokushima Prefecture, you'll probably be wise to put the pedal to the metal and keep driving! Yet, while this image is ripe for the plot of a Japanese horror movie, the story behind it is much more wholesome. Legend says that after many villagers died, Ayano Tsukimi created dolls in their likeness so their departed friends were always with them.
On second thought, knowing that the mannequins are based on actual people who have died makes it even creepier! We won't be visiting this place; no thank you.
The Shot of a Lifetime - He's Half in France, Half in Italy
This would be an epic skiing shot if it were taken by a professional photographer, but it was taken by a Google Streetview Mountaineer called Gianni! The exciting sporting image was taken at Mont Blanc's summit or Monte Bianco's summit, so half the skier is in France, and the other half is in Italy. The famous mountain was the highest in Europe, but all that changed when the Iron Curtain came down in the 1990s.
After the Caucasus Mountains - which span Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia - were allowed into the European club, Mont Blanc was relegated to 7th place. Mount Erebus is now Europe's tallest peak.
Be Careful, Lady!
Mexico is famous for its cliff divers. Every summer, hundreds of brave, bronzed, and slightly nuts divers go loco down in Acapulco by jumping 40 meters (130 feet) into the sea from the cliffs of La Quebrada. But one bridge over the River Tietê in São Paulo, Brazil, is famous for another strange diver. The out-of-place mannequin seems to be in a mid-yoga pose, perhaps meditating on whether she should jump.
And the lily-white model has good reason to be wary of entering the water. She is an installation to raise awareness about river pollution in the world's fourth-largest city.
We Love a Gay-Friendly Parking Lot
While this image features American vehicles, it comes from the United Kingdom. And while some cynics suggest that the sign had initially said DAY PARKING ONLY but had been photoshopped, we sent our intrepid reporter there to find out the truth. They confirmed that the sign does indeed read GAY PARKING ONLY. And if you don't believe them, you can check it yourself, thanks to the power of Google Streetview.
Just type in 74 Holmethorpe Avenue, Holmethorpe, Redhill, Surrey. Then drag the little man onto the address, move up the street a little, and you'll see the evidence with your own eyes.
The Easter Bunny Is Real (and Eerily Huge)
Until recently, if you went hiking up the Colletto Fava mountain in Italy's Piedmont region, you would have seen a 200-foot-long pink stuffed bunny rabbit visible from space! So what's the story? Back in 2005, a Viennese art group wanted to create a space where hikers could relax after climbing the mountain. So, they built a massive, pink, stuffed rabbit with its entrails spilling onto the side of the hill.
The art installation is officially called Hase (German for "hare"). Can you still visit? Unfortunately not. While it was expected to last longer, the alpine elements destroyed the Pink Rabbit by 2016.
A Metaphorical and Literal Train Wreck
We use many idioms to describe unfortunate events, from a car crash and train wreck to dumpster fire, SNAFU, and clusterf**k, but here's an actual train wreck. The Google Van Driver was minding their own business, driving on the I-80 near Wells, Nevada, USA, when they came across this accident and caught it on camera. Since there's an emergency truck in the middle ground, the photo was probably snapped in the aftermath of the derailment.
Now, which one of you out there is clever enough to find this picture on Google Maps? All the clues are above, and you'll have to switch to the 2019 view.
The Stairway to Heaven
You've heard of Led Zeppelin's song "Stairway to Heaven," but we think we've found the Stairway to Hell in Oklahoma City. Imagine the situation: One night, your house bursts into flames, so you jump out of the window and make your way down the rickety, rusty spiral fire escape. Then you start falling. Is this a dream? Who is that horned, cloven-hooved red figure holding a trident? And then you realize you're not dreaming.
In fairness, judging by the height of that truck, it may only be a twelve or fifteen-foot drop to street level. So you get away with two broken legs!
And Here We Were Thinking Dinosaurs Are Extinct
This extraordinary sight might have made the Google Streetview Van Driver perform a double-take, probably giving them whiplash! If you mosey on down to this field in the Californian town of Dixon, near Sacramento, you’ll find this giant dinosaur fossil chomping down its own weight in vine leaves. It’s been a while since we studied dinosaurs at school, but we think it could be a brontosaurus or maybe a diplodocus.
As for how the dino got there, it’s unlikely the farmer dug up and reconstructed a whole dinosaur. Our best guess is that the farmer made it, or perhaps they stole it from a museum!
They Call This Spot the Devil’s Cave
The Devil’s Cave, or La Cueva Del Diablo, lies just east of the city of Potosi in Bolivia. In 1737, Bartolomé Arzáns de Orsúa y Vela encountered a demonic presence in this spooky ravine. Jesuit priests drew an image of Saint Bartholomew on the rocks, expelling Lucifer back from whence he came. The cave gets its name from a dark streak on the rocks, said to have been left by the devil as he fled back to hell, where he belongs.
To this day, the Chapel of San Bartholomew sits 100 meters (330 feet) up the ravine, directly above the cave. Wouldn't it be cool if the church featured an express elevator to hell?
Where the King Watches Over His Village
At first, this image from Kocani in North Macedonia doesn't strike you as too out-of-the-ordinary. After all, plenty of people have chairs on their roofs. But the more you think about the logistics, the more absurd it becomes. First, that looks like a pretty heavy armchair, so how did they get it up there? By crane? Second, there's no way that flimsy, already-buckling corrugated iron can support the chair's weight.
And last but not least, while the view from up there might be nice, gingerly walking across an unsafe roof to sit in an armchair sounds like the opposite of a relaxing time getting sunkissed.
When Our Grandchildren Ask, Tell Them the Alien Invasion Began in Turkey
If you think giant Pink Bunny Rabbits are scary, wait til you get a load of this! If you're ever in Kusadasi on Turkey's stunning Aegean coast, watch your six as aliens stalk their prey from the town's rooftops. And not just any old extraterrestrials, but H.R. Giger's terrifying, hellish xenomorphs from the Alien film franchise. Zoom in, and you'll see there's also one clambering up the side of the house!
We hope the owners have set up sentry guns, are friends with Sigourney Weaver, or have a ginger cat called Jones. Otherwise, it's game over, man.
We Heard Google Street Views Filed a Restraining Order After This
When this person saw the cameras approaching, they sprinted up the beach to carve a giant message into the sand. If you noticed that the statement reads GOOGLE STEET VIEW and not GOOGLE STREET VIEW, well done! But before you come up with explanations about their spelling, bear in mind that the beach in question is on the Taiwanese island of Kinmen, so it's likely that English isn't the writer's first language.
Oh, and their English is probably much better than your Hokkien, Hakka, or Mandarin, the three main languages of Taiwan.
Don't Mess With Mama Bear
If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise. No, the teddy bears aren't having a picnic; they're just hanging out at the side of the road, watching the traffic go past. This one might be after tourists' picker-nick baskets, like the most famous ursine of all, Yogi Bear. But this isn't Jellystone National Park; this photo was taken on the Transfăgărășan Road in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains - and you know who used to live there!
If we've got our bearings right, that means this bear lives a stone's throw from Poenari Castle. The spooky, ruined castle was the home of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula!
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
They say a picture paints a thousand words, but we have no idea what's going on in this photo from Winnsboro. South Carolina, USA. First, of course, is the crashed plane in the tree. There's only one way that aircraft got into that tree, and it didn't climb up from the ground. Next is the dummy climbing the utility pole. We guess the dummy could, in theory, have climbed up from the ground.
Then, assuming the photo is bona fide, the last bizarre thing is the mountain bike standing up of its own accord. For once, we have no explanation.
Google Earth Goes Underground
Who knew Google Street View went underground? Of course, the van didn't drive through the Catacombs Of Paris; a skeleton crew of one or two brave employees would have walked the route carrying their equipment in a backpack. The catacombs hold the remains of over six million people and were created to eliminate the city's overflowing cemeteries. During World War II, the French Resistance fought Nazis from these hidden tunnels.
In 2004, police discovered a fully working movie theater hidden away in the catacombs! A group showed film noir classics to audiences who also enjoyed a fully stocked bar and restaurant.
A Haunting Shipwreck
Underground catacombs aren't the only unexpected beneath-sea-level location on today's list. No, this underwater photo isn't from Atlantis Streetview; it's actually a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico. We think the image must have come courtesy of the Google Streetview Submarine. Unfortunately, it's not the three-hundred-year-old wreck of the Spanish galleon, the San José. She was lost in a sea battle in the Caribbean Sea with the English in 1708.
We say 'unfortunate' because San José contains a treasure trove worth between $4 billion and $17 billion! It's almost enough to make you commandeer your own submarine and start looking for sunken treasure.
Is This Tractor Supposed to Attract or Scare off Kids?
Cameras captured this weird tractor and carriage in the southern Austrian region of Carinthia, in the east of the European Alps. Taking inspiration from Speedy McQueen in Disney’s Cars, the tractor owner tried to spruce up his rusty machine to take the grandkids on little trips around the garden. Then, Grandpa thought it would be a good idea to decorate Tractor McTractorFace with a demonic Joker smile and long, feminine eyelashes.
In 2016, the UK's National Oceanography Centre launched a competition to name their new ship. And those hilarious Brits voted to call the vessel Boaty McBoatFace! Sadly, NOC killjoys refused to honor the result and named the ship Sir David Attenborough.
Everyone Who Walks in Is Never Seen Again
The owners of this house in Gramado, Brazil, must really, really love bears. So much so that they turned their home into a cartoon bear-themed mini-amusement park. The bear is the same height as the house, meaning you must walk through the bear’s giant butthole to enter the property. In fact, do you think it could be a fully-dilated, pregnant mommy bear, and she’s about to give birth to a baby bear?
No matter the explanation behind this design, what was meant to be cute turned out a little creepy. Plus, rumor has it that whoever goes inside is never seen again (yes, we made that up).
Dead Plane Cemetery
Sadly, this photo doesn't show where Pablo Escobar hid two of his drug-running planes. But the old satellite image does detail a couple of abandoned airplanes in someone's abandoned backyard. While the yard was a bit of a mess, you'll be glad to hear that the Palacio de Memoria resort gardens are now filled with lush trees, plants, and flowers. And the planes have been retrofitted to become exclusive lounges.
If you’d like to visit the Palacio de Memoria resort, it sits on the popular waterfront promenade of Roxas Boulevard in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.
The Xinjiang Firebird
Finally, we leave you with a mystery. This satellite image was taken over the desert of Xinjiang in northwest China and appears to show a bird. Some people have called it The Xinjiang Firebird and suggest it could be similar to Peru's famous Nazca Lines. As for the black hole in the middle, some say it's a large body of water, but it seems to be digitally added. Raising the question; What are they trying to hide?
What do you think the mysterious image could be? Has Google unearthed an ancient Chinese geoglyph as old as the hills? Or did a construction worker in a bulldozer just move a load of sand?