From underworld portals to UFO landing zones, 'lakes of blood' and 'undiscovered pyramids' in Egypt, the strangest Google Earth images
By TARYN PEDLER
Google Earth, although a useful locator tool, has on occasion boggled the minds of internet users who have stumbled across images of objects and scenes which appear to hold no logical explanation.
People are free to explore the planet in a few clicks of a button on the site, but some users have found themselves accidentally discovering chilling and disturbing sights.
Some UFO hunters claim the tool has captured proof of alien life while others have used the world mapping feature to investigate some of the spookiest areas on earth.
From 'lakes of blood' to 'undiscovered pyramids' in Egypt - ancient mysteries have been quizzed and questioned as internet users scratch their heads trying to unlock the truth behind the bizarre finds.
And it's not just creepy scenarios that have been unearthed on the virtual maps, but man-made installations too, from multi-billion-pound companies to local artists.
In one strange discovery, a portal to an ominous underworld was spotted tearing through an unknown street as onlookers gathered to watch.
Meanwhile, in another, a suspicious door buried in the deep snow of Antarctica seemed as if it could transport a visitor to the home of Bigfoot.
And if those weren't mind-boggling enough, a giant pentagram found on the ground in Kazakhstan sparked wild theories around satanism - but the truth was eventually revealed to be far more innocent.
Doorway to Bigfoot, Antarctica
A mysterious 'doorway' was spotted on Google Earth in Antarctica, just southeast of the Japanese-run Showa Station.
The bizarre discovery sparked a range of theories across the internet, including Bigfoot's vacation home or a shuttle from Star Trek.
The unusual structure was discovered by a Reddit user on Google Maps at the co-ordinate 69°00'50'S 39°36'22'E.
Posting to the forum, they wrote: 'Massive door in Antarctica?', along with the co-ordinates.
'Just a blown off Boeing door,' one user replied, while another wrote: 'That's actually Bigfoots vacation home.'
One user suggested it was the 'door to Agartha', while another claimed it could be a 'big seed vault like the one in Svalbard, Norway
Sadly, the structure's true identity is much less exciting than these theories might lead you to believe.
Professor Bethan Davies, a Professor of Glaciology at the University of Newcastle, looked at the coordinates on Google Earth Pro, allowing her to see historic imagery.
'This feature is in an area of fast sea ice in East Antarctica, just offshore of the coast,' she explained to MailOnline.
'There are a series of islands there and the water is pretty shallow.
'This is an iceberg that became grounded and is now stuck and melting out in situ. You can see many other icebergs in the area.'
A mysterious 'doorway' was spotted in Antarctica, just southeast of the Japanese-run Showa Station
Blood lake, Iraq
On the outskirts of Sadr City in Iraq there was once a blood-red lake that baffled Google Earth users.
Part of a stretch of water called Lago Vermelho, the lake runs through the city and is separated by sections of concrete and crossings.
It is within one of the central panels of water that the bright red color could be seen, giving the appearance of blood.
Speculation as to what may have caused the red coloring was rife at the time it was spotted by an eagle-eyed internet user, with some suggesting the lake was close to a slaughter house and the coloration was the result of dead animals being dumped there.
Others put forward the more sensible suggestion that the lake was near a sewage treatment plant, or perhaps water treatment was the cause of the colour.
But speculation aside, science offered a different explanation: tiny organisms.
In some salty lakes, special algae or bacteria can bloom, turning the water red.
A red lake in Iraq sparked fears it was filled with blood when it was spotted on Google Earth
Undiscovered pyramids, Egypt
This Google Earth image shows a seemingly sunken sand patch which some internet users believed could be an unexcavated pyramid.
The deep crater in the sand appears to be triangular in shape, leading some to the theory that this may be a monumental ancient Egyptian pyramid that has been missed by archaeologists.
Due to the nature of its position, and it's hole-like structure, the undiscovered pyramid is thought to have sank thousands of years ago, leaving a giant three-sided space in its wake.
Less than one percent of Egypt has been excavated, so there are almost certainly ruins we haven't found yet.
But an amateur satellite researcher from Maiden, North Carolina, in 2012 asked an Egyptologist what their thoughts were on the strange apparent pyramid.
'Looks to me more like the sand dunes have moved into the area and the local people were intent on saving some of the sites soon to be covered by sand. So they have kept up and excavation of this area for a reason.' the expert said.
'Looks to be something round sitting on top of a square feature. I think it may be an old well, like a lot of these features usually are. Or at least some sort of religious site that is being kept open by the locals'.
A bizarre triangle shaped crater in Egypt sent theories swirling that it could be an undiscovered pyramid
UFO landing tracks, England
There are bizarre structures discovered on US and British air bases, such as this one located near Norwich in England.
With its concrete base and rogue swirling patterns, alien-lovers across the internet claimed it could be a UFO landing track.
Seemingly placed in the middle of a field of sorts, with not many buildings around it, the mystery of what exactly the was home to deepened.
But despite the random, spaced-out designs, what is believed to be the truth behind the track was revealed almost a decade ago.
The area has been deemed a motorcycle range by the UK Ministry of Defense, though some believe it could potentially serve as a calibration mechanism for satellites.
What was thought to be a UFO landing track turned out to be a motorcycle range
Portal to the underworld, Unknown
Google Earth in 2018 captured a mysterious black space floating in the middle of a road.
The location of the unnerving siting remains unknown adding to the mystery.
Pictured, is what appears to be a typical construction site next to a public footpath.
Three people can be spotted; two older men are standing on the left with one man dressed in black and the other in a red coat.
A younger man appears to be about to the cross the road on the other side, BUT in between the men is a particularly ominous black hole.
After being posted online, internet users went wild with conspiracy theories, speculating that it could be a secret portal to the underworld.
But a more logical explanation later emerged.
As Google stitches images together, there a good chance this was just another Google glitch.
Or, perhaps, an oil spill from the heavy duty vehicles working on the construction site.
A glitch in Google Earth made it seem as if a portal to the underworld had opened up in the middle of the road
Crash-landed alien spaceship, South Georgia Island
Conspiracy theorists claimed to have spotted a 'crash-landed spaceship' in 2018 after a Google Earth image revealed a mysterious object buried in the snow on South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Alien hunters were convinced it was of extra terrestrial origin but the truth would seem to lie closer to home.
Rather than evidence of little green men, it is the result of a large avalanche from a nearby mountain depositing a rock or large chunk of ice onto a glacier below.
Dr Richard Waller, senior lecturer in physical geography at Keele University, was behind the claim.
The unidentified mass was discovered near Antarctica on the remote South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, where just 20 people live.
The avalanche is located in the upper part, known as the accumulation area, of the Novosilski Glacier, he said.
Speaking to MailOnline in 2018, Dr Waller explained: 'It looks to me as though this feature is related to a large avalanche from a nearby mountain.
'Part of a hanging glacier appears to have collapsed, you can see the avalanche debris at the foot of the slope, and this could be a large block of ice that has travelled further as a consequence.
'The track shows that it's sliding over a snow-covered glacier before it comes to a rest.'
Bizarre tracks could be seen running up behind the object, suggesting it slid through the snow for some distance before coming to a halt.
A Google Earth image revealed a mysterious object buried in the snow on South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic Ocean
Upon closer inspection, the object was revealed to be the result of a large avalanche from a nearby mountain depositing a rock or large chunk of ice onto a glacier below
The Pentagram, Kazakhstan
A giant five-pointed star etched into the ground deep in Kazakhstan sparked wild ideas after it was spotted on Google Earth.
As a symbol, pentagrams have a rich history across various cultures and religions, but conspiracy theories run wild, with some folks thinking it could be a sign of devil worship.
But as usual, the explanation is much simpler.
The massive star, captured within a circle, located near a lake close to the city of Lisakovsk, is actually the remains of an unfinished Soviet-era park.
Back when Kazakhstan was still part of the Soviet Union, stars were used on buildings, flags, and monuments across the country.
Archaeologists believe what happened on the ground near the popular lake followed that very tradition.
Roads were built to follow the star shape, and though the park was never completed, those roads are still visible from above, making the star stand out even more against the navy water.
Today, the site is abandoned and overgrown, adding to its creepy atmosphere.
The star-shaped etching in Kazakhstan appeared to be a satanic symbol, but the reason behind its creation is much more innocent
Bloody murder scene, Netherlands
In 2013, a Google Earth image prompted fears that it revealed a chilling and bloody murder scene.
The shot, which showed what looked like a trail of blood leading down a jetty in the Dutch city of Almere, sparking speculation a body had been dragged along it.
A shadowy, though unidentifiable figure is seen standing at the edge of the water in the shot, which was taken by a Google Earth helicopter.
However, an online sleuth revealed that is no grisly murder scene, but rather the work of a wet golden retriever called Rama.
Owner Jacquelina Koenen told The Sun in 2013: 'When I saw the picture I realised tt's my dog. He loves the water.
'He jumps off the end of the jetty, swims round to the bridge and runs down to the edge again.
'It's hilarious that everyone thought it was murder. But it's great he's now world famous.'
The paper added that local police confirmed Koenen's story, putting many people's mind at ease after believing they had seen a horror murder scene.
What seemed to be a bloody trail turned out to be the marks left behind by a soggy dog in Almere
The Gates of Hell, Turkmenistan
The Darvaza gas crater, also known as the 'Gates of Hell,' looks like a giant black hole in the middle of Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert.
But the 230ft wide hole has been on fire for over 50 years, after being created in 1971 when a Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into a massive underground natural gas cavern, causing the ground to collapse and the entire drilling rig to fall in.
After puncturing a pocket of gas, poisonous fumes began leaking at an alarming rate.
In an attempt to avoid a potential environmental catastrophe, the Soviets set the hole alight, assuming it would stop burning within a few weeks.
But decades later it is still burning and the pit has become a major tourist attraction, drawing in around 10,000 visitors a year.
At night, the spectacle is truly awe-inspiring. The flames illuminate the night sky, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
While the temperatures can reach up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, the flames burn without any smoke and offer a clear view of the inferno below.
Turkmenistan's government has considered putting out the fire due to environmental concerns and the waste of valuable natural gas, but the Gates of Hell continue to burn to this day.
The Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan appears as a mysterious black hole in the middle of a barren desert on Google Earth
In reality, the crater is lit up by an orange blaze that has been alive for over 50 years
Billionaire's name in sand, UAE
Hamad bin Hamdan al Nahyan, a billionaire Sheikh and a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, had his name etched into the sand on the island of al Futaisi, which he owns.
The name is written half a mile in height and two miles in length and is allegedly visible from space, with Google Earth imagery capturing the deep lettering stretching through a sandy area and into the ocean.
Whereas the sea would typically wash away any markings in the sand, these letters are so huge they form waterways that fill with the tides but do not vanish.
Images show the word 'HAMAD' gradually turning blue as the seawater seeps into the giant etchings.
The name HAMAD can be seen etched into sand in the UAE
KFC space logo, Nevada
From space, extraterrestrials and astronauts can look back to earth and see The Great Wall of China -- and KFC's Colonel Sanders.
The KFC Corp. in 2007 launched a rebranding campaign with an 87,500 square-foot image of Colonel Sanders in the Nevada desert which the company said makes Kentucky Fried Chicken the world's first brand visible from space.
'If there are extraterrestrials in outer space, KFC wants to become their restaurant of choice,' KFC President Gregg Dedrick said in a statement.
The logo consists of 65,000 one-foot by one-foot painted tile pieces that were assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
'If we hear back from a life form in space today - whether NASA astronauts or a signal from some life form on Mars - we'll send up some Original Recipe Chicken,' said Dedrick.
The logo also depicts an updated version of KFC icon Colonel Sanders who wears his signature string tie but with a red apron instead of his classic white double-breasted suit.
The logo was built at the remote Area 51 desert near Rachel, Nevada, which KFC said was known as the UFO capital of the world and famous for its association with UFO conspiracy theories.
The KFC Corp. in 2007 launched a rebranding campaign with an 87,500 square-foot image of Colonel Sanders in the Nevada desert
The Boneyard, Arizona
The Boneyard appears on Google earth as unbelievably large green space filled with hundreds of abandoned planes.
Although they may seem like toy figures, the aircraft dumped on these grounds are in fact, real.
The Boneyard is the largest plane cemetery in the world, and is located in Tuscon, Arizona.
The site's massive size is equal to an astounding 1,430 football fields, providing ample space for the extensive collection of over 4,000 retired aircraft.
The Boneyard, also known as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, annually receives 300 aircraft for storage and processes out about the same number (with 50 to 100 of those returning to flying service).
Aircraft that fly again either return to the US military, US government agencies such as the US Coast Guard, US Forest Service, and NASA, or are sold to allied governments under either the Foreign Military Sales program of the Arms Export Control Act, or the Excess Defence Articles program of the Foreign Assistance Act.
The Boneyard, located in Tuscon, Arizona, is the largest plane cemetery in the world
Scarecrow Village, Japan
One Google Earth user was left baffled after stumbling across a village of scarecrow people in Nagoro, Japan.
Once a bustling community, the village has an ever shrinking population, except from the 300 life-sized scarecrows that are dotted around the area.
Their faces seem so real that Google has blurred them out in its digital maps.
The bizarre scarecrows were created by a local artist named Tsukimi Ayano and allegedly resemble past villagers or imagined characters.
They have been set up by Ayano to make them appear as if they are tending to gardens, fishing by the river, or even waiting for a bus.
She stuffs old clothes with newspaper and cotton wool to make the plush figures that ca be seen on Google Earth placed around the village.
Ayano even started creating dolls that follow international trends.
Visitors can play a game of real-life 'Where's Waldo,' and can attempt to find the US President Donald Trump scarecrow doppelganger or characters from the Harry Potter series.
There are also famous Japanese celebrities and comedians.
On the first Sunday of October, Nagoro holds a festival that exhibits the scarecrows and Ayano's other works.
She’s just one of approximately thirty people still living in the village.
One Google Earth user was left baffled after stumbling across a village of scarecrow people in Nagoro, Japan
Local resident and artist Tsukimi Ayano making the head of a life-size doll at her house in the tiny village of Nagoro
Eerie images show the life-sized scarecrows dotted across the village
The dolls are made to appear as if they are carrying out everyday human tasks
Floating forest, Australia
Seen on Google Earth as what looks like a floating forest is the shipwreck of SS Ayrfield.
It lies deep in the heart of Sydney, Australia, and over time has been consumed by nature - turning it into a haunting relic.
The large silhouette of the ship appears on the map to be a lonely island, but in reality, it marks an abandoned piece of history that has been left to the elements.
Built in 1911, the SS Ayrfield spent its life hauling cargo up and down Australia's coast.
But by 1972, its working days were over. It was sent to a scrapyard in Homebush Bay –but they never finished the job.
Over the years, a vibrant mangrove forest established itself within the rusting hull of the wreckage, creating an incredible visual contrast with the dark waters below.
The deteriorating ship has over time been transformed into the floating forest seen from above today, and the natural reclamation has turned the SS Ayrfield into a popular destination for photographers and tourists, providing a unique view of the interaction between human history and nature.
Google Earth shows the SS Ayrfield shipwreck appearing as a small island near Australia
The wreckage has been left to the elements and the vessel is now covered in trees
The SS Ayrfield sits on the shallow harbour bottom with mangroves growing out of her rusting shell
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