This thread is being introduced to provide a method for the geography geeks and satellite image geeks that hang in Club Cyburbia to share hints and directions for exploring Google Maps.....and locating cool places and images. This Bear spends a lot of time wandering around the world.....especially the states......using Google Maps to do all of the following.....
Follow routes that I have personally traveled on.
Look for buildings that I have been in.
Follow routes that I have read about, heard about, or am just curious about.
Search for industrial areas, to get a feel for the logistics of movement and place.
Check out airport design.
Evaluate the limited-access highway networks for cities and metros.
Determine community growth by evident suburbs (cul-de-sac land).
Consider the overall impression left to the viewer, based on the season when the satellite images were taken.
Gaze into and at natural wonders.
Explore quirky and unique road patterns.
Follow railroad routings.
Follow river and stream routings.
Gaze in awe at the size of waterfront homes.
Yadda.
Many of these things may be near-and-dear to Cyburbians. Check out the suggested "look-see" locations. Provide some of your own, too. Let's go exploring!
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Vilnius, Lithuania.....Just northwest of the CBD is a rather unique roundabout. A portion of it is elevated over a main route. The roundabout helps feed that main route.
Toronto VS Twin Cities.....If you spend some time (at the same resolution) comparing Toronto with the Twin Cities, you get a real visual understanding of the difference between a "car-friendly metro" and a "pedestrian-friendly metro". The Twins are criss-crossed by limited-access highways. Toronto has some of the widest limited-access highways.....but very few considering its' huge size.
Ladd Circle, Portland.....Portland, OR.....just SE of the CBD is a unique neighborhood. It has a circle street in the center, with obvious "spikes".
Moscow & Crowded Roads.....The thing that I noticed about the limited-access and main highways of Moscow was that they all have very heavy traffic. Apparently, freedom provides vehicles.
Bedford Park Railyard......The huge CSX railyard in Bedford Park (Chicago, just south of Midway Airport) is incredible. A railfan's dream.
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What explore you?
Bear