I graduated from Calvin with a geography degree, which means I spend an inordinate amount of my free time looking at maps. It also means those ‘Americans can’t find a single country on a map’ videos are especially painful. Geography never seems to be stressed in the US, (insert some imperialistic ideology here) but I think it is a key part of understanding the world and all of its people and cultures, as well as a good way to earn some extra points in trivia competitions.
Most of my map time is spent on Google Maps looking at foreign cities and exploring wilderness areas. I don’t think we appreciate how amazing it is to have a detailed worldwide atlas available 24/7 for free, so here are some tips for getting the most out of Google Maps and expanding your geography knowledge.
Using a computer is recommended for the best viewing experience.
Street View
The best part of Street View isn’t the streets, it’s the views. Adventurous individuals with GoPros have been submitting offroad imagery for years. Find your favorite mountain range, dangle the little Street View guy, and you will find some amazing places. Most 14’ers in Colorado have a panorama view at the summit, and places like Yellowstone and Yosemite valley are full of incredible views. Personally, I recommend the Wind River range in Wyoming, and there are some great spots in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The US has so many amazing natural places that no one talks about because they aren’t a National Park, and Street View is a great way to find them.
One of my other favorite parts of Street View is the sudden discovery of old imagery. Some backroads and rural areas haven’t been covered as recently as the more urban areas, and there is one old spot I’m especially thankful for. My parents moved out of my childhood home last December. Christmas was the last time we were all together in that space. I made sure to walk around and take some pictures of the house but there is only so much you can do. The street the house is on was most recently covered by Street View in the winter of 2022, but if you move all the way to the guardrail at the end of the dead end you travel back in time. The snow changes to the fall leaves of 2007 and you can see a fuzzy picture of eight-year-old me and my brother standing in the front yard staring at the Google Maps car. Just because the driver in 2022 didn’t go all the way down the dead end, I still have access to this memory. What year was your house last pictured?
Layers, Map Details, and More
In the bottom left of your screen you’ll find the spot to change to satellite imagery as well as a few other noteworthy options. The ‘Biking’ option is great for finding hidden gem trails you’ve never heard of and will make you jealous of Holland’s infrastructure if you live in GR. Similarly, ‘Transit’ is an intriguing way to explore larger cities. If you want to see some cool glacial features, turn on ‘Terrain’ and take a look at the Leelanau Peninsula in northern Michigan.
If we are feeling adventurous, hit the ‘More’ option and turn off labels on satellite view. This is also where we can make sure to check Globe View so we can avoid the evil Mercator projection. Scanning the earth without any labels or guidelines can feel daunting, but it is very rewarding to recognize locations without any help. Try finding a friend or relative’s house in another city without labels.
So instead of doomscrolling I propose mapscrolling. Explore a city block by streetview in a city you’ve never been to before. Follow a river from its mouth to its source. Examine the coastline of a country you’ve never heard of. Learn something new about this beautiful world.
Nathan Hilbrands (’21) graduated with degrees in geography and environmental health and conservation. He is currently working for the Allegan Conservation District as a watershed technician. He enjoys collecting National Geographic issues that he rarely looks at again, playing disc golf a lot without improving, and trying new board games.
