Google maps adds new locations to its 'street view oceans' feature
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Google Maps added 40 new locations to its brilliant "ocean view" map feature on Tuesday in celebration of . Much like regular street view allows you to observe homes and businesses from street level, the 聽feature places you in the center聽of coral reefs and marine life.听
New locations include Bali, the Bahamas, and the Great Barrier Reef.听
But the announcement is about more than new images, .听
"We hope the release of this imagery inspires people to learn more about this precious natural resource. Mapping the ocean is key to preserving it. Each image in Google Maps is a GPS-located digital record of these underwater and coastal environments, which can be used as a baseline to monitor change over time. This comprehensive record of coral reefs showcases the beauty of these ecosystems and highlights the threats they face, such as the impact of increasing storms in the Great Barrier Reef and of rising water temperatures, factors causing the reefs to bleach white."
聽released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) give a disheartening picture of the oceans' overall health.听
According to UNESCO, there are now close to 500 dead zones. In these areas, excessive nutrients from sewage outfalls and agricultural runoff have contributed to low oxygen environments that are unable to support ecosystems.听
So can these images actually raise awareness?聽
With over 聽using Google in 2013, it's definitely possible.听
Others have spoken out against ocean pollution on social media, hoping to reach broader audiences. Attendees of the World Ocean Council last week used the hashtag #OceanSummit in their tweets to begin a global conversation about Earth's oceans.听
Google has the resources needed to make a large impact for Ocean conservation awareness, a role they recognize and embrace.
Flipping through the images and "swimming" through the blue-toned waves you will encounter in the Cook Islands, a in Aruba, the in Indonesia, and in the Maldives.听
Google also new partnerships with the , , and , among others.听
