Google announced today that it is expanding 45° imagery in Google Maps to include some U.S. and international cities.

“In Córdoba, the third largest town in the Spanish region of Andalucia, you can now explore in highly resolved images from four directions,” explains Google Geo Data Specialist Bernd Steinert. “Check out the world famous Mezquita-Catedral, a former mosque from the times when that part of Spain was ruled by the Moors, now a Roman Catholic Cathedral. Its construction as a mosque began around 800 and it was turned into a church after 1200.”

This is pictured above.

“A major update in the U.S. comprises Houston, the largest city of Texas and fourth largest of the United States,” adds Steinert. “Take a look at the Houston Ship Channel with all its refineries and oil tanks alongside, erected for one Million Dollars in 1902 when oil was first discovered in the area.” Below.

Here’s the full list of updated cities:

Augsburg, Germany
Barstow, CA
Bartlett, TX
Big Bear, CA
Blackstone, VA
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Córdoba, Spain
Delano, CA
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Richmond, VA. Elgin, TX
Healdsburg, CA
Helendale, CA
Hemet, CA
Houston, TX
Mendoza, Argentina
Midlothian, VA
Napa Valley, CA
New Braunfels, TX
Ojai, CA
Ottawa, Canada
Pensacola, FL
Porterville, CA
Plant City, FL
Rancho Del Lago, AZ
Rosario, Argentina
Santa Clarita, CA
Sarasota, FL
Taylor, TX
Temecula, CA
Treasure Island, CA
Troy, IL
Twentynine Palms, CA
Wakefield, VA
Yucca Valley, CA.

Today Google also shared a “land art” tour of Google Earth, which is pretty interesting.

As reported earlier, a Millennium Falcon-shaped school property has been spotted on Google Maps.

On a side note, WebProNews reporter Abby Johnson spotted a Google Street View car here in Lexington this afternoon.