Google Maps Scavenger Hunt

Naval Amphibius Base Coronado-San Diego Home of SEAL training

Here's one

hint: upcoming tour

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 4 2007, 02:51 PM) [snapback]506864[/snapback]</div>

Hint#2 Bluegrass

Hint#3 As reference by lack of orderly township and range system of survey, "east of the mississippi"

Hint#4 Fireengineer tour

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(airportkid @ Sep 1 2007, 04:50 PM) [snapback]505547[/snapback]</div>

Well, I can't let this go by, as a native northern Minnesotan. That of course is the Northwest Angle. Supposedly this was formed as the surveyor in the early 1800's was following the definition of the U.S/Canada border at the time, taking "the major waterway" from Lake Superior to the Mississippi River, up to the 49th parallel, and then over to the Pacific Ocean. At that time, they thought the Mississippi came out of Canada, and the surveyor was well above the 49th parallel before they figured it out, so he dropped down and continued west along the 49th. At least, that's how I remember the story, the actual facts may not agree.
(I think there's at least one more place in the lower 48 where you need to go thru Canada to get into that part of the U.S., somewhere along the Great Lakes.)

In any case, this is the northernmost point of the lower 48, although the misleading typical curvature of many maps makes it look like Maine is higher. Alaska is obviously the northernmost state, but what states are the farthest west, east, and south? Even geographically well-versed people often get this question wrong.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bestmapman @ Sep 4 2007, 02:21 PM) [snapback]506881[/snapback]</div>

And south of the Ohio River. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, etc. were the first to follow townships and sections (set up by Thomas Jefferson). I was thinking Europe initially, and a whole 'nother bunch of tours could be done there.

Sorry for the double post earlier, not sure how that happened.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Sep 4 2007, 12:35 PM) [snapback]506888[/snapback]</div>

Of the 50 states, Alaska is the answer to all but the southernmost, and Hawaii is southernmost. That Alaska claims both west and easternmost status is that it crosses the 180 degree meridian in the Aleutian Islands, putting part of it into the eastern hemisphere.

Of the lower 48, West Quoddy Head, Maine (with the candy striped lighthouse) is easternmost, Key West, Florida is southernmost, and a desolate point of land at the south edge of the Strait of San Juan de Fuca in Washington state is westernmost, but just barely.

MB

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(airportkid @ Sep 4 2007, 02:55 PM) [snapback]506894[/snapback]</div>

I knew I couldn't pull anything over you guys :lol: The east and west states are what usually surprises people.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 4 2007, 07:39 PM) [snapback]507087[/snapback]</div>

Yes! I looked all over for maritime training facilities with no luck - so lay one on us! That drydock and the smallish parking lot (considering the size of the structure) argue for a school rather than a public facility, but I've been wrong too.

MB

 

Museum? It just occurred to me that the drydock has NO attendant equipment, cranes, or crane tracks, so it's not a maintenance dock but perhaps a display dock, with its usual occupant towed off camera for repairs. Don't answer if doing so would give away too much.

MB

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 4 2007, 07:51 PM) [snapback]507096[/snapback]</div>

The tumblehome picture windows and the huge lawns planted on pilings built for the purpose? Some eccentric millionaire's home & the drydock is for storing the family yacht without blocking the channel (that the building and its piling have already taken up half the width of)?

Say no more - I'm keeping you from your night's rest - but yes, the architecture is odd. I'll go pay Google a visit ----

 

Copenhagen Opera House

I should have picked up on the "not in Sydney" instantly, but the lack of parking (at least visible parking) and the drydock threw me. Good pick!!

My basket's empty, so if someone gets one up before I find something, all's fair in loft and warp!

MB

 

I have no idea what this is. But it's the damndest piece of geology I've seen, and it covers a continuous region of roughly 20,000 square miles. Kinda looks like hair (1st image), but zoom on in close and it reveals itself as thin ridges scarring the landscape (2nd image). They aren't tracks - but they don't look like water erosion either. Did the wind make these, like sand dunes, wearing away lighter soil from denser striations in underlying rock?

Since the area covered is so huge it isn't necessary to match my spot exactly, just someplace like it somewhere in all that 20,000 square miles. And therein is a clue: in all that 20,000 square miles, there ain't anything BUT this weird geologic formation - noplace to sit down and buy a Coke and try to get your bearings.


From fairly high up ---

[attachmentid=11156]


And much closer in ---

[attachmentid=11157]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(airportkid @ Sep 5 2007, 12:22 AM) [snapback]507165[/snapback]</div>

Well, given the scale, and the scattering of trees in the close-up, I figured this must be Australia, and I found a large area, here that seems to match, but I can't find the exact match (or one that is even 90% the same, I can't even find the same shade of green), so I'll wait for confirmation on it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Sep 5 2007, 07:50 AM) [snapback]507292[/snapback]</div>

You found it!

But what is it? (not necessary to answer that question as part of the game, but I am curious).

You're up.