Google Maps Climbs To The Top of the World

सर्बौच्च शिखर रहेको देशको नागरिक भनेर हामीले धेरै गौरब गर्ने गर्छौँ। तर यथार्थमा हामी मध्य धेरै अहिले सम्म सगरमाथा गएको नी हुँदैनौ। तपाई पनी  जानुभएको छैन भने अब चाहीँ जान सक्नुहुनेछ है, त्यो पनी घरमै बसेर। गुगल म्यापमा अब सगरमाथा बेसक्याम्प हेर्न सकिने।

Google map has been providing us maps, images and even the street views of our locality since long. It also offers a route-planner for traveling by foot, car, bike and public transportation. Now Google has reached the top the world too. Google has provided 360-degree photos.

 Google has provided these 360-degree photos, which were taken using a tripod and digital camera with a fish-eye lens. This included equipment that is typically used for its Business Photos Program. These views are collected in the Google Street View Collections: The World’s Highest Peaks.

“Now you can explore some of the most famous mountains on Earth, including Aconcagua (South America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe) and Everest Base Camp (Asia) on Google Maps. These mountains belong to the group of peaks known as the Seven Summits—the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. While there’s nothing quite like standing on the mountain, with Google Maps you can instantly transport yourself to the top of these peaks and enjoy the sights without all of the avalanches, rock slides, crevasses, and dangers from altitude and weather that mountaineers face,” Google posted on its official blog on Monday.

In order for Google to bring such stunning images to computer screens everywhere, someone had to actually go out and actually climb these peaks and take these fish-eye shots. This fell – in a good way of course – to the Google Mountain Enthusiast team, which was led by Dan Fredinburg, a technical program manager for security and privacy at the search giant, as well as a skilled mountaineer.

“There’s a social benefit to using these tools to tell the story in these environments. A chance to really connect to what’s on the ground with a rich imagery so they can see what it looks like and feels like to be there,” Fredinberg told Wired magazine.

The Google team trekked to Mount Everest last October, making it to the Everest South Base Camp in Nepal, which is nearly 17,600 feet above sea level. Fredinberg reportedly pressed the guides to take him higher, but the guides refused, suggesting that the risks of dying were about 100 percent!

In fact the trip was not without its risks already. During the Everest expedition there had been mudslides, snowstorms and even an earthquake. Fortunately those who look to the images of the base camp can enjoy the view with no such risks or hazards themselves.