Now Google Street View takes users to Mount Everest

How many times did you wish to climb the Mount Everest or Mount Kilimanjaro but could not do it maybe because you either didn’t have the time, the courage or simply the amounts of energy needed?

Google has added views from some of the world’s tallest mountains to scenes woven into its popular online map service. You can now explore stunning panoramic images and traverse the not-so trodden paths of these famous mountains virtually — the experience might be the closest you can get to the real.

[caption id=“attachment_666524” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Hanging out at the Everest Base Camp. Image: Google Street View.[/caption]

Google is bringing the group of peaks known as the Seven Summits - the highest mountain on each of the seven continents to your Web browser and the Google Maps mobile phone app. With this, now you can explore some of the most famous mountains on Earth, including Aconcagua in South America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe and Everest Base Camp in Asia on Google Maps.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

Arm chair explorers were invited to take virtual adventures tours with members of Google’s Street View team to Aconcagua in South America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, and Mount Everest base camp in Nepal, reported AFP.

“Whether you’re scoping out the mountain for your next big adventure or exploring it from the comfort and warmth of your home, we hope you enjoy these views from the top of the world,” Google adventurer Dan Fredinburg said in a blog post.

“With Google Maps, you can instantly transport yourself to the top of these peaks and enjoy the sights without all the avalanches, rock slides, crevasses, and dangers from altitude and weather that mountaineers face.”

Fredinburg’s teams - which included four to seven people, depending upon the trip - used a lightweight tripod and digital camera with a fisheye lens to visually map Aconcagua in Argentina (22,841 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (19,341 Feet), Mount Elbrus in Russia (18,510 feet) and Everest South Base Camp in Nepal (17,598 feet). It’s the same setup the Street View team uses for the Business Photos program. They opted to use that rig instead of the 40-pound, 75-megapixel Google Trekker backpack.

In addition to announcing the new Street View locations, Google also put up a behind-the-scenes look at how the company made the project happen. “We’re honored to share this amazing imagery with you on Google Maps and show the world what life is like from the its highest peaks!” said Sara Pelosi, People Programs Manager at Google.