Google Maps have certainly expanded their horizons recently.
The Street View feature of Google Maps lets you ‘walk’ up and down the world’s streets and look around with 360 vision. After their latest update, you can now explore a remote volcanic island called Ambrym and climb down into the crater, and look out on a molten lava lake. You can also explore large parts of the island, including beaches and a jungle, and the nearby village, Endu.
Google enlisted explorers Geoff Mackley and Chris Horsley to capture the images. They climbed around 1,300 feet into the volcano while wearing the 360-degree camera that captures the 3D images we’re used to seeing on Google Street View.
The view of the lake as seen on Google Maps
Speaking on about the experience on Google’s blog, Horsley said, “standing at the edge and feeling the heat lick your skin is phenomenal. I hope that by putting this place on the map people will realize what a beautiful world we live in.”
You may not be able to feel the heat, but you can track down the Marum crater on the Vanuatuan island of Ambrym on Street View if you fancy an adventure of your own…or you could take this shortcut and go straight there.
