39 Google Earth Hidden Weird Places with Coordinates
Update:The article was last updated with a new hidden place with coordinates in the Google Earth app on 6th August.
Google Earth lets you explore places on our planet directly from your screen with realistic 3D images! But keeping the usual tourist hotspots aside for a moment. Did you know that Google Earth holds some hidden and weird places just waiting to be discovered? We’re not talking about your neighbor’s rooftop; it is about places that make you tilt your head and ask, “What on Earth is that?” Let’s unlock some of Google Earth’s hidden and weird places, complete with the coordinates.
Table of Contents
1. Desert Breath: Spiral Through the Sands of Egypt
In the Egyptian desert near the Red Sea, there is a huge artwork calledDesert Breaththat’s so big you may even see it from space. It was made in 1997 by three artists from Greece.
Desert Breath is made up of two spirals made from sand. To create it, the artists dug out small cones of sand and used that sand to build bigger hills next to them. In the center, there used to be a pool of water, but it has dried up over time.
This was made to help people feel how small they are in such a huge desert. The spiral shapes and sharp points were inspired by the natural shapes of dunes.
Wind and weather have slowly changed the shapes over time. This makes this place a reminder of how time passes in the desert. Even though it’s fading, people still visit it or look at it through satellite images. There are a few conspiracy theories that it was made byaliens, but there’s clear proof that it was created by human artists.
2. The Black Hole Island
If you notice, there’s a weird black spot on Google Earth out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That’s Vostok Island, a tiny, empty island that looks completely blacked out. This strange appearance has led to all sorts of wild guesses, like it being a secret army base or something even more mysterious!
But the real reason for this dark look is actually quite natural. The center of Vostok Island is covered in a super-thick forest of trees called Pisonia grandis. These trees grow so close together and their leaves are so dense and dark that from high above, all you see is this intense black color.
This small island, only about a mile long, belongs to a country called Kiribati. It was first spotted by explorers way back in 1820. The island itself is made up of broken bits of coral and sand. Interestingly, it doesn’t have a lagoon (a shallow pool of water in the middle) or any fresh water.
Even though no one lives on Vostok Island, there’s evidence that some ancient people from Polynesia might have visited it a long time ago, probably because of the rats that live there.
3. Nazca Lines: Giant Drawings on the Sands of Peru
In the deserts of Peru, you’ll find theNazca Lines— huge drawings made on the ground. They were created by the Nazca people between 200 BC and 600 CE and show animals like hummingbirds, monkeys, and spiders, as well as shapes like lines and patterns. Some of these drawings are as big as a football field.
No one knows for sure why they were made. One idea is that the lines worked like a giant calendar to track the stars and planets. A researcher namedMaria Reichespent her life studying them and believed they were used to follow the movements of the sun and stars.
Another idea is that the lines had religious meaning. Archaeologists found platforms and seashells near some of the drawings, which could have been used in water-related ceremonies. This makes sense since the desert is very dry and water was precious.
Recently, Japanese researchers used drones and found168 new drawings, including human and animal shapes. But now, the lines are in danger. Although the desert has kept them safe for centuries, nearby cities and mining activities are putting them at risk. That’s why Peru and groups likeUNESCOare working hard to protect them.
4. Mount Lico: A Lost Rainforest Atop a Mountain
You’d think in today’s world, every corner of our planet has been explored. But sometimes, hidden wonders still await discovery, and in 2018, Google Earth played a surprising role in finding one.
This is Mount Lico in Mozambique. Looking at satellite imagery, a conservation scientist named Julian Bayliss spotted something interesting: a high-altitude rainforest clinging to the steep sides of the mountain. It looked like a world untouched by time.
At the summit, scientists found a rainforest full of unique creatures like butterflies, spiders, and small animals. They even found some old, handmade pots, hinting that perhaps someone had reached this secret spot around a century before. Who those early climbers were remains a mystery.
It shows that even in our well-mapped world, there are still incredible secrets waiting to be discovered with the help of technologies like Google Earth.
5. Rhyolite: Nevada’s Ghost Town
Rhyolite is an old ghost town in Nevada that came to life during the gold rush in the early 1900s and disappeared just as fast. In 1905, gold was discovered in the nearby Bullfrog Hills. People rushed in, and the town grew quickly. By 1907, Rhyolite had electricity, big buildings, and even a red-light district.
But the boom didn’t last. By 1910, the gold was gone, and most people had left. The streets were empty, and the buildings were left behind to fall apart.
Today, Rhyolite is a place tourists visit. They come to explore the old ruins, including a house made entirely of glass bottles, a unique reminder of how fast fortunes rose and fell in the gold rush days.
6. Mysterious Site in the Chinese Desert
In the western desert of China, satellite images show some strange-looking structures that have sparked curiosity and rumors. One of the shapes looks a bit like a helicopter testing area, but experts say there’s no clear reason to believe it’s for military use.
According toStuart Hamilton, a geospatial expert, the site doesn’t seem right for a secret military base — it’s too close to a big city, and there are no fences or guard towers around it.
So, while the site may look mysterious, there’s no strong evidence that anything secret or dangerous is happening there.
7. Boat-Shaped Shopping Centre, Hong Kong
In Hong Kong’s Hung Hom area, there’s a shopping mall that looks like a giant cruise ship. It’s called theWhampoa Boat-Shaped Shopping Center, and it’s 360 feet long. It’s one of the most unique landmarks in the city.
This place has a deep history. Back in the 1800s, it was the site of theWhampoa Dockyard, one of Asia’s busiest shipyards. Over 4,000 people worked there, building some of the biggest ships in Hong Kong. But during World War II, the dockyard was bombed and later shut down.
In 1985, the area was rebuilt into a housing estate, and to remember its shipbuilding past, the mall was designed to look like a ship. It’s a creative way to keep history alive.
8. Triangle UFO in Australia
Back in 2007, Google Earth users spotted a strange triangle shape with bright lights in a field in Australia. Some people thought it looked like a UFO hovering above the ground, and the image quickly got attention from UFO fans.
But others had a more down-to-earth explanation. They suggested it might be part of a nearby wind farm. The triangle shape is likely made by three sets of wires, with a tower in the center.
The old image actually resembles a UFO, but if you see the new images, you may easily get to know that it’s just a Windmill. So, while it looks mysterious, it’s most likely a man-made structure.
9. The Ghost Town of Pripyat, Ukraine
Pripyat was a city in Ukraine built for the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Before the disaster, nearly 50,000 people lived there. But in 1986, after one of the reactors exploded, the entire city had to be evacuated in just one day.
Since then, Pripyat has been abandoned. The amusement park’s Ferris wheel, which was supposed to open soon after the explosion, still stands but was never used. Schools, hospitals, and homes are now empty, slowly falling apart.
To control the radiation, a massive steel structure called theNew Safe Confinementwas built over the damaged reactor. It’s designed to keep the area safer for the next 100 years.
10. The Kissing Hills of Darfur
In the Gharb region of Darfur, Sudan, there’s a hill formation that looks just like a pair of lips! If you check it out on Google Earth, you might be surprised at how perfectly nature shaped this feature.
There’s no deep mystery behind it, it’s just the result of natural erosion and the way the land has formed over time. From above, the hills look like someone’s lips, thanks to the smooth curves and shadows.
It’s a fun example of how nature can create unexpected and beautiful shapes, even in the middle of a dry, rugged landscape. If you’re exploring the world through satellite images, this is one quirky spot worth checking out!
11. The Pigeon People, Japan
If you explore Google Maps near Tokyo, you might spot something strange — a group of people wearing realistic pigeon masks. They seem to follow the Street View car, striking funny poses that surprise anyone looking around the area online.
These “Pigeon People” are believed to be students from a nearby art school known for doing creative and playful projects. It was likely just a fun prank.
The idea fits well with Japanese culture, where art often blends with everyday life. In Japan, pigeons are seen as symbols of good luck and flexibility. Once discovered, the images of the Pigeon People quickly went viral on social media.
It’s a great example of how unexpected moments of art and humor can show up even when you’re just browsing a map.
12. The Ghostly Shipwreck of S.S. Jassim, Sudan
Off the coast of Sudan, on the Wingate Reef, lies the sunken remains of a large ship called the S.S. Jassim. This cargo ferry from Bolivia ran aground and sank in 2003.
The ship was 265 feet long and could clearly be seen on Google Earth for many years, making it one of the biggest shipwrecks visible from space. But over time, the sea has slowly pulled it under. Today, only a faint outline might be visible, as the ocean reclaims the wreck bit by bit.
It’s a haunting reminder of how powerful nature can be and how even massive ships can become quiet underwater ghosts. If you’re curious, you can take a virtual look and see what’s left of this lost giant.
Note:You won’t be able to see this image now, but you can activateHistorical Imageryon Google Earth and change the year to 2009 to see the ship.
13. Sandy Island: The Island That Never Was
For over a century, maps showed a mysterious place in the Coral Sea called Sandy Island. But here’s the twist:it never really existed. The story began in 1876 when a whaling ship claimed to see land in that spot. Based on that report, Sandy Island was added to maps, and even though later ships didn’t find it, it stayed marked to warn sailors.
Then, in 2012, scientists sailed straight through the supposed location. They found only the deep ocean with no islands, no land, just water. After that, the “island” was finally removed from maps. Experts think the sailors may have mistaken a giant floating patch of pumice (a light volcanic rock that floats) for land.
14. Mapvertising: Giant Ads You Can See from Space
As millions scroll through Google Earth, brands are going bigger literally. And there camemapvertising, where companies plant massive ads in remote areas so that they can be seen from the sky.
Perhaps the most iconic example is the world’s largest Coca-Cola logo, spread across a hillside in Chile. It was crafted from 70,000 empty Coca-Cola bottles! That’s a dedication to your brand.
Not only Coca-Cola, butKFCalso once placed a gigantic87,500-square-foot image of Colonel Sandersnear Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway. Although it’s now gone, it once proudly smiled up at satellites and curious viewers from across the globe.
This technique proves that even in the age of drones and digital maps, bold branding still finds its place in the most unexpected landscapes.
15. Ghost on the Balcony – Nancy
A balcony inNancy (France)became internet-famous after a strange image surfaced on Google Maps. It showed atall, blurry figurewith what looked like glowing eyes, eerily standing in the shadows. Nicknamed theGhost on the Balcony, the image set off wild theories like was it a ghost, an alien… or just a reflection of the light?
Some skeptics believe it’s likely atiki statue, its features warped by Street View’s camera. But what fueled the fire was Google’s response:they blurred the entire scene.Why censor something so ordinary? The mystery remains, reminding us how quickly digital oddities can evolve into full-blown legends.
16. Strange Patterns in China’s Gobi Desert
Zoom into China’s Gobi Desert on Google Earth, and you’ll find a web ofstrange, perfectly geometric patternsengraved into the sand so massive that it’s visible from space.
The most surprising is a20-mile-long gridof razor-straight lines, forming a design that looks almost too perfect to be natural. Experts suspect these patterns are tied tomilitary testing, satellite calibration, or possibly a giantYagi antenna arrayused for tracking weather or atmospheric data.
Though the Chinese government hasn’t confirmed anything, speculation ranges from secret military facilities to scientific research bases. There are numerous formations in the region:rectangle-shaped zones, circular targets, and even areas resembling airport runways. Their exact purpose remains a mystery.
Defense analystTim Ripleytold TheTelegraphthat thecircular structures resemble missile testing ranges, similar to those seen aroundArea 51in the U.S.
Though no official explanation has been provided, thesemarkingsshow that even the most remote regions may hide activities far beyond our everyday understanding.
17. The Gates of Hell: Turkmenistan’s
Deep in Turkmenistan’sKarakum Desert, a blazing pit of fire has been burning for decades, and it’s weirdly nicknamed the“Gates of Hell.”
This surreal site, officially known as theDarvaza gas crater, formed in the 1980s after aSoviet drilling operationreportedly triggered a collapse into an underground gas pocket. Fearing toxic emissions,scientists reportedly set the gas alight, expecting it to burn out in days. It never did.
Today, the pit measuresabout 70 meters wideand reachestemperatures close to 1,000°C. At night, it glows with high intensity and lights up the desert sky with flickering orange flames.
Despite environmental concerns and discussions by theTurkmen governmentabout extinguishing it, the crater still burns, attracting around10,000 curious visitorsannually.
18. Two Diamond Inside Circle: A Scientology Mystery
Google Earth revealstwo massive diamond shapeswithinoverlapping circles, carved into the earth with geometric precision in the remote desert ofNew Mexico, nearMesa Huerfanita.
These strange markings have drawn plenty of attention, and journalistJohn Sweeneyhas suggested a wild theory that this is the site of ahidden Scientology bunker.
TheChurch of Scientology, which teaches spiritual awakening and enlightenment, is said to use these symbols asvisual aids. According to reports, they’re meant to guide Scientologists back to Earth in the event of a global disaster or “apocalypse.” It’s an idea that sounds like science fiction. But there they are, clearly visible from the sky.
While the Church hasn’t confirmed the true purpose of the markings, their isolated placement and careful design only deepen the mystery.
19. The Desert Pentagram, Kazakhstan
You’ll discover a strange and haunting sight: amassive five-pointed starengraved into the earth beside a lake when you zoom into northernKazakhstan, near the city ofLisakovsk. At first glance, the symbol resembles agiant pentagram, leading to wild conspiracy theories involving secret rituals and evendevil worship.
But the truth behind this striking image is far more grounded. The star is actually aremnant of Soviet-era planning, the layout of apark that was never completed. During the time when Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union, the five-pointed star was a common symbol of state power, appearing in military insignias, architecture, and public spaces.
Archaeologists believe that the star-shaped layout was part of aplanned recreational area, with roads and pathways forming the shape visible from above. Over time, the site was abandoned and left to nature, making its outlines even more noticeable in satellite imagery and more mysterious to modern-day viewers.
20. A Billionaire’s Name You Can See from Space
Ever wanted to leave your mark on the world? SheikhHamad bin Hamdan al Nahyan, billionaire and member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, took that ambition to celestial heights,literally writing his name into the Earthso it could be seen from space.
On his ownAl Futaisi Island, the name“HAMAD”is carved across the sand in huge letters. Each is nearlyhalf a mile tall, and the entire word spans overtwo mileslong, likely thelargest name ever inscribedon the planet.
But this isn’t just a show-off moment that disappears with the waves. Sheikh Hamad’s team carved the letters deep into the sand, turning them into canals. This clever trick lets seawater flow through the name. You’ll even see water reaching into the ‘M’, making it look like part of the sea in Google Earth.
Note:You won’t be able to see the letters now, but you can activateHistorical Imageryon Google Earth and change the year to 2009 to see the ship.
21. Underwater Aeroplane: Bahamas
The Bahamas isn’t just about white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water; it’s also home to a few underwater surprises. Beneath the surface, you’ll find several sunken airplanes, each with a story. These wrecks attract snorkelers and divers from around the world, not just for the history but also for the sea life around them.
One of the most famous wrecks is linked to the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. His plane crashed in the 1980s and now lies in shallow water. Today, it’s covered in colorful coral and fish.
The island of Bimini also hides a few sunken planes. These wrecks are partly intact and have become artificial reefs, giving a safe home to many sea creatures.
Not all wrecks are from the distant past. In 2001, a tragic crash near the Bahamas took the life of singerAaliyah. That accident led to stricter flight safety rules in the region.
22. Old Warplanes: Boneyard at Davis Monthan
A massive graveyard for retired U.S. military planes is in Tucson, Arizona. It’s called theDavis Monthan Air Force Base, but many know it as “the boneyard.” Spread across 2,600 acres, this giant aircraft storage area is off-limits to the public, but you may still explore it through Google Earth.
You will see row after row of old warplanes, everything fromB-52 bomberstoF-14 fighter jets. These planes once ruled the skies, but now they sit quietly. Some are waiting to be recycled, others are fading away.
The dry Arizona climate helps keep the planes from rusting, making it the perfect resting spot for aircraft that served in wars from World War II to more recent missions.
Even music history touches this place. In the early 1990s,Tom Petty and the Heartbreakersshot their “Learning to Fly” video here, performing among the silent giants of the past.
23. Shipwrecks Hidden Beneath the Indian Ocean
Right off India’s coast, the Arabian Sea holds many shipwrecks from a long history of trade and exploration. For hundreds of years, ships from around the world sailed these waters, but strong storms, rough seas, and sharp reefs made the journey dangerous. Many vessels sank here, turning the sea floor into an underwater museum.
One important site isBet Dwarka, where divers and archaeologists have foundRoman pottery, anchors, and tools. These discoveries show that ancient India once had strong trade links with the Roman Empire. The powerful currents that wrecked the ships also helped preserve them, like frozen moments from history.
European ships, especially those from theEast India Company, also ended up at the bottom of the Arabian Sea during the colonial era. They carried valuable cargo but couldn’t always survive the wild storms or avoid coral reefs. What they left behind were cannons, building materials, and even ivory, which now tells the story of life at sea hundreds of years ago.
Thanks to modern tools likesatellite and aerial imaging, researchers are still finding more shipwrecks, includingPortuguese vesselslost long ago.
24. The Island Within Islands
Tucked deep in the Canadian Arctic lies one of the world’s strangest natural formations: an island in a lake, on an island, in a lake, on an island. Confusing right? You’re not alone.
It’s a small, unnamed island shaped like a little squiggle of green, resting in the middle of a lake. That lake lies on another island, which itself is in a larger lake, all located on Victoria Island in Northern Canada.
What makes it even more fascinating? There’s a good chance no human has ever set foot on it. It was discovered not by explorers on foot, but by internet map lovers scouring Google Earth for unusual geography.
This strange chain of land and water layers makes it the largest known place of its kind on Earth.
25. Australia’s Floating Forest Shipwreck
Australia’s one of the most unusual sights floats in the waters of Homebush Bay, Sydney: the wreck of the SS Ayrfield. It is now famously known as the “Floating Forest.”
Originally built in 1911, the SS Ayrfield once carried cargo along the Australian coast. After decades of service, the ship was retired in 1972 and brought to a scrapyard in the bay. But the dismantling process never finished, and the ship was left abandoned in the water.
Over the years, mangrove trees began growing inside the ship’s rusted body. Today, the mix of twisted metal and thick greenery makes it look like a forest floating on water. This place has become a favorite for photographers and nature lovers now.
26. Polka-Dot Formation By Ants
Near Vulcan’s Throne on the Grand Canyon’s north rim, satellite images show a strange polka-dot pattern across the desert. These evenly spaced, circular clearings stand out against the surrounding vegetation and have caught the attention of researchers.
Physicist Amelia Carolina Sparavigna believes these dots are created by red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus). These ants build large mounds and clear the area around their nests, which could explain the pattern seen from space.
The cleared patches around the nests can grow quite wide, giving the area its dotted look when viewed from above. While this theory is based on satellite imagery, no field research has yet confirmed it.
Still, the pattern is a reminder of how even tiny creatures like ants can leave a visible mark on the Earth, big enough to be seen from miles above.
27. Baia: The Roman City Lost Beneath the Sea
Baia was a luxury resort known for its hot springs and coastal beauty near Naples, Italy. It was a glamorous resort town during the Roman Empire.
But volcanic activity caused the ground to sink, slowly submerging the city under the Mediterranean Sea. Today, much of Baia lies underwater and is part of an archaeological park where visitors can explore this submerged place.
Some believe the town’s name came from Baius, a sailor from Odysseus’s crew, and its mysterious underground tunnels may have inspired Greek myths about the underworld.
Now, scientists use underwater sensors to protect the ruins. Tourists can explore Baia’s sunken streets and statues by glass-bottom boat, snorkeling, or diving.
28. Blood Lake Outside Sadr City
Satellite images once revealed a shocking sight just outside Sadr City in Iraq: a deep red lake that looked exactly like blood. The image captured on Google Earth quickly drew attention worldwide.
The most likely explanation points to pollution. Some local reports suggest that slaughterhouse waste might have been dumped into nearby canals feeding the lake. Others blame untreated sewage or industrial runoff. While no official source has confirmed the cause, human activity is the main suspect.
Though rare, certain types of red-pigment algae could create a similar effect. However, the sudden and isolated appearance of this red water makes pollution seem more probable than a natural bloom.
Interestingly, the lake has at times returned to a normal color, suggesting the red tint was temporary, possibly tied to a one-time discharge. Whatever the cause, the “blood lake” remains a haunting example of how human impact can shape even the most unexpected corners of Earth.
Note:As the color of the lake keeps changing, activate the historical imagery and set it to 2012 to watch the blood lake.
29. Swastika-Shaped Building Complex, California, USA
In San Diego, California, a Navy building complex made headlines after people noticed something strange on Google Earth—the buildings formed a swastika shape when seen from above.
Built in the 1960s, the complex includes four L-shaped buildings. At the time, no one realized the shape they created, as satellite imagery wasn’t available. It wasn’t until Google Earth became popular that the pattern caught public attention.
The Navy has said the design was unintentional and promised to make changes. They planted trees, added solar panels, and began a full renovation to turn the layout into a simple square to break up the image.
Some people believe the changes aren’t enough and think the buildings should be torn down completely. While debate continues, the Navy is sticking by its statement that the original layout was never meant to send a hateful message.
30. A Roman City Scarred by Looters
The ancient Roman city of Apamea in Syria has suffered extensive damage during the country’s civil war. It now shows hundreds of looting holes clearly visible on Google Earth.
Since the war began, looters have dug countless pits across the site in search of artifacts. Satellite images reveal the ground covered in craters. This gives the city an appearance of a lunar landscape.
“It looks like the surface of the moon,” said archaeologist Emma Cunliffe, who studied the destruction. She reported that in just eight months, looters disturbed more ground than archaeologists had excavated in years.
Apamea’s fate reflects a broader tragedy in Syria, where all six UNESCO World Heritage Sites have been damaged. What remains is a haunting image of a cultural treasure destroyed not by time, but by conflict and greed.
31. Broken Face: Antarctica
A rocky formation has drawn attention for resembling a massive, broken human face in a remote part of Antarctica. This is a case of pareidolia, where the brain interprets natural patterns as familiar shapes.
Nicknamed the “Broken Face,” the feature has inspired countless online theories. Some viewers say it resembles a stone-faced villain, while others see a solemn Native American chief frozen in time. The weird isolation of Antarctica only adds to the mystery.
As with many odd sightings on Google Earth, the conspiracy grows because the location is so hard to reach. This has raised theories about hidden structures and ancient civilizations beneath the ice.
Still, experts agree that most of these shapes are natural rock formations or shadows. They look uncanny from above, but there’s no evidence of anything artificial beneath the frost.
32. Abandoned Launch Sites: Oahu Defense Area
During the Cold War, the Oahu Defense Area in Hawaii housed Nike missiles, supersonic surface-to-air weapons, some even carrying nuclear warheads. These sites were part of a nationwide defense network active from 1954 through the 1970s.
On Oahu, the launch pads were set in the open air, separated by large earthen embankments for safety. Satellite imagery from the 1960s shows the layout of these paired missile sites.
As intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) became more advanced and Nike missiles became outdated. Many launch areas, including those in Hawaii, were abandoned, overgrown, or repurposed.
To preserve their history, GIS specialist David Tewksbury is building a geo-referenced database of the Nike sites using Google Earth. His work helps ensure these once-secret military installations are not lost to time.
33. A Giant Bunny, Colletto Fava, Italy
In 2005, a group of Austrian artists installed a massive 200-foot-long pink bunny on a hillside in Colletto Fava, Italy. Designed to look like it had crash-landed, the stuffed figure appeared with its insides spilling out across the ground.
CalledHase, the artwork was meant to be interactive, where visitors could climb on it and imagine their own stories. The giant bunny became a quirky landmark visible even from Google Earth. However, exposure to the elements slowly destroyed it.
By 2016, most of the fabric had decayed, leaving behind only faint pink traces where the actual installation once stood.
Note:Keep in mind to activate the historical imagery and set it to 2012 to have a look at the giant bunny.
34. Possible Eroded Pyramids in Egypt
Satellite imagery from Google Earth revealed several pyramid-like mounds in Egypt, encouraging debates among researchers and enthusiasts. Notably, American archaeologist Angela Micol identified two sites along the Nile basin, approximately 90 miles apart, featuring unusual hills that resemble eroded pyramids.
One of these sites displays a distinct four-sided, truncated pyramidal shape about 140 feet wide, accompanied by three smaller mounds in a formation recalling the Giza Plateau pyramids.
However, experts caution that these formations might be natural geological features. James Harrell, professor emeritus of archaeological geology at the University of Toledo, suggests that such mounds could be mistaken for archaeological structures by those lacking geological expertise.
Further on-site investigations are necessary to determine whether these mounds are remnants of ancient pyramids or simply natural landforms.
35. Australia’s Mysterious Desert Triangle
A large triangular formation lies in the remote Australian desert, also known as the Outback Triangle. It is roughly football-field-sized, with lights marking each corner. It’s known for its mysterious nature and strange reports.
Pilots flying over the area have experienced electronic malfunctions, sparking theories about a possible magnetic field disrupting their equipment.
Interestingly, this triangle sits nearly opposite theBermuda Triangleon the globe. Some speculate a magnetic link between the two, possibly affecting navigation systems.
The region also holds deep cultural meaning for Aboriginal communities. Stories tied to the land and nearby star formations like the Southern Triangle constellation add to the mystery of this enigmatic site.
36. Wheel Structures in the Azraq Oasis, Jordan
In the desert aroundAzraq Oasis in Jordan, satellite images reveal mysteriouswheel-shaped stone structures. Some are believed to be over8,500 years old. These ancient designs may even come before Peru’s famous Nazca Lines.
Researchers from theAerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East (APAAME)have studied these “wheels,” also known as the“Works of the Old Men,”using Google Earth. Many wheels featurespokes radiating from a center, while others are shaped like squares, rectangles, or triangles.
Some of the wheels in Azraq have spokes alignedsoutheast to northwest, suggesting a link tothe sunrise on the winter solstice.
37. Swastika Geoglyph in Kazakhstan
In northern Kazakhstan, researchers discovered aswastika-shaped geoglyph. It is one of over50 ancient designsspotted in the region. Made oftimber, unlike the more commonearthen mound geoglyphs, this symbol dates back around2,000 years.
At the time, theswastikawas a common cultural motif found acrossEurope and Asia, long before it became associated with political ideologies in the 20th century.
38. Badlands Guardian
High above the plains of Alberta, Canada, lies a natural formation that looks astonishingly like a human head wearing a feathered headdress. Named theBadlands Guardian, which appears to be carved by hand, but it’s entirely a product of nature.
Discovered in 2005 by Lynn Hickox via Google Earth, the formation quickly gained online fame for its uncanny resemblance to a Native figure. The illusion is also a classic case of pareidolia, our brain’s tendency to see familiar shapes, especially faces, in random patterns like clouds or landscapes.
Interestingly, the figure appears to wear “earphones,” but this isn’t part of the original terrain. These are actually a road and an oil well that were added later, unintentionally enhancing the illusion.
Despite its sculpted appearance, the Badlands Guardian is not a man-made monument. It’s a valley naturally shaped by erosion, wind, and rain over thousands of years. The feature lies in a remote and rugged part of Alberta’s badlands—land traditionally connected to theSiksika First Nation, rich with history and meaning.
Most visitors experience the Guardian through satellite imagery, making it one of the most iconic examples of how digital maps can reveal unexpected wonders of our natural world.
39. Ojo de la Tierra, Ayapel, Colombia
Tucked away in the sprawling wetlands ofAyapel, Córdoba, Colombia, theOjo de la Tierra(literally “Eye of the Earth”) is a near-perfect circular water body visible from above — and it stands out like a natural mystery on Google Earth.
With coordinates roughly8.36384° N, 75.20857° W, this isolated circular lagoon floats amid dense vegetation and winding water channels, giving it the appearance of a giant eye staring up from the swamp.
No one knows exactly how it formed: locals speculate it’s due to sediment movement, water currents, or natural erosion in the swamp. Every time researchers or drone pilots fly over it, its perfectly circular shape leaves more questions than answers.
So there you have it, folks! A world tour of some of the weirdest and most wonderful things our planet has on offer, all visible with a few clicks on Google Earth. Who knew the world held so many strange secrets just waiting to be discovered from above? Keep exploring.
Anchit Srivastava
Working as a Tech Writer at Tech Wiser, I’m passionate about technology since childhood. I enjoy discussing it with friends, exploring new techs, and analyzing features in Android, iOS, and other technologies. My goal is to simplify complex information about current and emerging technologies, making them more accessible and understandable to people interested in learning more.
