Google Maps Scavenger Hunt

The blast in question was close to 40 years ago.

 

OK, volcano eruption possibly near indonesia around 1978. Someone should be able to get it now -- I have to go get groceries or the dog will gnaw my arm off.

 

That was 30 years ago. 1968 is the year, and I think it's a nuclear experiment in the French Polynesia.

 

Close to 40, but not precisely, so don't get too fixated on 1968. Tramp's getting warmer with part of his assumption, but not the other part.

 

I guess y'all need another clue. The year of notoriety was 1971.

 

Anybody still playing? Need more clues?

 

Amchitka Island, Alsaka

Interesting -- I knew about the Long Shot Test but didn't remember Canniken.

Alaska - Google Maps

 

Interesting place. Good luck with one...

 

Hint: it isn't snow.

 

It's salt.

But there are many of these lakes in Nevada.... (is it nevada?)

 

It isn't salt and it isn't in Nevada, but a good guess. It is one of a few locations that can be found by an astronaut from space. The location has a long history associated with space.

 

I'm lost....

 

Werner von Braun spent a lot of time near this place after WW II and it is an alternate landing site for the space shuttle -- parts of it are very flat and it is visible to the astronauts from space in case the shuttle's navigation instruments fail.

If that isn't enough -- you can surf or boogie-board on the dunes! It also has a large population of a strange African mammal.

 

Not snow and not ice? Is it bright sun reflected off a lake? Frozen carbon dioxide on mars?

edit: Ohhh...sand. that makes sense. White Sands, New Mexico, makes even more sense. Lemme see if I can do this picture posting thing again...here's the place.

 

Yes, it is Gypsum sand. The U.S. brought Werner von Braun to White Sands at the end of WW II to continue his work on rockets (part of Operation Paperclip). Rockets and missiles are still tested at White Sands. The large African mammal is the Oryx -- it really looks out of place but they thrive there for some reason.

Funny story that involves von Braun -- Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX was demolishing a few old swimming pools built around WW II that were safety hazards. Right before the worst pool was demolished someone noticed a picture in a common building that everyone usually ignored. It was a picture of Werner von Braun and his family at a swimming pool (they lived at Fort Bliss) -- except everyone seemed to have forgotten that it was von Braun in the photograph. Shortly after that it was confirmed that it was von Braun's family in the photo and it was at one of the concrete pools (not used in years) being demolished. The pool was a safety hazard and an eyesore but it was immediately declared a historic location. No one wanted to go visit the "historic location" or turn it into a museum and it was finally demolished a long time later.

 

Somehow I knew the "strange African mammal" was a red herring.
If someone has an image ready, go right ahead.

 

Actually, the Oryx isn't a red herring

Here is a link about the Oryx from the White Sands National Monument website: The Oryx

I try not to intentionally mislead folks in the scavenger hunt. I would rather let them explore and maybe find something entertaining and educational at the same time.

 

OK, I found one. This is another 'space place' that goes back a few years.

(I'm not saying your clue was intentionally misleading, Jack. It was carefully worded, though.)

 

Baikonur Cosmodrome -- oldest space facility in the world.

baikonur cosmodrome - Google Maps

 

MacArthur spent some time here.