As millions of users already know, Google Earth is one seriously cool -- and completely free -- program that lets you view satellite imagery and maps of virtually any place on the entire planet.
You can also get turn-by-turn directions from one spot to another and share tagged photos and videos with friends.
But you already know about all this.
What you might not be aware of, however, are a couple of hidden Easter eggs and other little-known goodies found in Google Earth (version 4.2 or higher). The following are a few of our favorites.
Flight Simulator
Click on the globe and press CTRL+ALT+A. Now you can choose from one of two aircraft -- the F16 (Viper) or a SR22 propeller plane -- and an airport, such as London Heathrow, LAX or even Kathmandu. To fly, follow the onscreen keyboard commands (or use a mouse or game controller) and check out the scenery below. Sweet!
Every human has rights
Open up Google Earth and copy these coordinates into the search field: 51°36'38.60"N 0°06'58.61"E. Click the search icon. Now you’ll zoom over to the outskirts of London, England, and find a poster that reads “Every Human Has Rights.” Click the poster and it will expand full screen -- with text, photos and links -- to read about Promise Mthembu, an HIV/AIDS activist the founder of South Africa’s Young Positive Living Ambassadors Program.
Crop circles
Do you believe crop circles were created by intruding aliens or is it a natural (but freaky) phenomenon? Regardless, there are a few interesting crop circle patterns that were captured by satellite imagery, and thus viewable in Google Earth. Our favorites are in England (copy and paste 53°31'54.33"N 1°21'24.93"W into the search box) and in Italy (copy and paste 44°40'52.79"N 10°19'6.39"E into the search box).
Miscellany
-- Paste these coordinates in -- 50° 0'38.19"N 110° 6'48.31"W -- to see some Canadian terrain that looks like a Native Indian’s face, complete with headdress and earring.
-- This one is Finger lickin’ good. Insert coordinates 37°38'46.50"N 115°45'2.98"W to see a giant KFC logo and Colonel Sander’s likeness in the Nevada desert.
-- Oh, those crazy nudists. While you can’t make out much detail, type in these coordinates to the search window -- 51 11 49.71 7 16 40.06 – and you’ll see two German sunbathers enjoying the rays.
-- Sure, it’s the name of a Pat Benatar song, but you can also find “Fire & Ice” together in Greenland, by using these coordinates into the search window: 69° 3'7.72"N 41° 8'29.66"W. In fact, zoom out a bit and you’ll notice an interesting fish scale-like design on the ice, too.
-- Who wouldn’t like a cold pint after scaling a mountain? 39°49'21.77"N 3°28'44.50"W will reveal the giant words B-A-R on the top of a Spanish mountain. Cheers!
By Marc Saltzman for USA TODAYScreenshot: The Google Earth Flight Simulator.
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