Google has partnered with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Parks Directorate to collect panoramic imagery of the islands with the Street View Trekker. As a result, Google will be adding the “stunning” images to Google Maps later this year.
Here’s an early preview of what to expect:
“The Galapagos Islands are some of the most biologically unique ecosystems in the world. Explorers and scientists alike have long studied and marveled at these islands—made famous by Charles Darwin,” says Google Maps Project Lead Raleigh Seamster. “The Ecuadorean Government, local conservation groups and scientists are working to protect the Galapagos from threats posed by invasive species, climate change and other human impacts.”
“It’s critical that we share images with the world of this place in order to continue to study and preserve the islands’ unique biodiversity,” Seamster adds.
The imagery should make a fine complement to Google’s other underwater “Street View” imagery. In fact, Google once again teamed up with the Catlin Seaview Survey (who it teamed up with last time) to capture the new underwater imagery.
This should all also go well with the new, more visual Google Maps experience.