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answers (11)

pazaq
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BEST ANSWER  chosen by asker   |  pazaq  |  February 20, 2009 07:34 PM
That's really cool. I doubt it. It is probably left over from some kind of salvage operation where they work in a grid pattern to find everything; however, wouldn't it be cool!

I don't think the intended result of google maps/earth was to discover things but it is being used a lot as a scientific tool.
source(s):
Really great question. I'm looking forward to seeing the results!

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philipy
philipy  |  February 20, 2009 07:40 PM
Damn it, this seems like a plausible explanation! :)

I was thinking that a city wouldn't really have such deep trenches or big enough roads as to be visible on that sort of scale. But maybe dredging would.
philipy
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philipy  |  February 20, 2009 07:36 PM
It would be wonderful if it turned out to be a lost city!

I'm reserving judgement until it's been investigated more closely. It might be some kind of image processing glitch, data corruption or even the result of hacking. Or who knows, maybe even some natural process that we don't yet understand.

Personally I'd love to think Google is such a powerful search engine it can even find lost civilisations! But the guy that spotted this deserves credit. It's one thing to have data, and another to have smart people's eyeballs looking at the data.

Thanks for highlighting a great story Jeff!
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boothroyd
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boothroyd  |  February 20, 2009 08:06 PM
Hard to say... even for Google officials:

"Google today claimed the criss-crossing lines were sonar data collected as boats mapped the ocean floor.

But the internet giant said “blank spots” within the lines could not be explained.

A spokeswoman said: “Bathymetric (or sea floor terrain) data is often collected from boats using sonar to take measurements of the sea floor.

“The lines reflect the path of the boat as it gathers the data.

“The fact that there are blank spots between each of these lines is a sign of how little we really know about the world’s oceans.”"
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jacobovill...
2
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jacobovillegas  |  February 20, 2009 08:10 PM
source(s):
@manuelvillegas just sent me the link
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thelobbyis...
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thelobbyistdotnet  |  February 20, 2009 08:14 PM
I wouldn't doubt it. People denied the existence of Troy and Jericho for centuries before their ruins were finally located. I want to believe!
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albanian
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albanian  |  February 20, 2009 08:14 PM
This question was asked elsewhere on Mahalo, and here is my answer:

"The ruins of ancient cities that I have visited were tiny by modern standards. This one is the size of Wales, apparently. Google says it's an artifact of the sonar ships going back and forth but that sounds strange since the lines include perpendicular ones.
Meanwhile, although the Sun has an excellent reputation for news about how attractive young ladies look without their tops, they are not so good at regular news and science. And the Mail which had the counter story is even worse. Dueling tabloids. I suppose if there is anything to this a real paper will investigate. "
The Telegraph seems to have picked it up now. When it is reported favorably in the Times then it will be time to sit up and pay attention.
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martron300...
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martron3000  |  February 20, 2009 10:48 PM
Or it could be....a secret underwater alien UFO base !
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jakeparr
1
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jakeparr  |  February 21, 2009 12:16 AM
If they can find this, THEN WHERE ARE THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION!?!
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soragon
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soragon  |  February 21, 2009 01:31 AM
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10168269-36.html

"According to the United Kingdom's Press Association, the pattern of streets equated to an area the size of Wales."
Those are pretty big and straight streets to equate to the size of Wales from the ancient times.

"In this case, however, what users are seeing is an artifact of the data collection process. Bathymetric (or sea floor terrain) data is often collected from boats using sonar to take measurements of the sea floor. The lines reflect the path of the boat as it gathers the data."

This does sound fishy.
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soragon
soragon  |  February 21, 2009 05:48 AM
"Because the lines are explained here: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/15118/01/250.PDF

They were sonar mapping the area to determine if it was a suitable location to store radioactive waste. That sonar data (lines) was combined with the satellite data to produce the map.

As to an island sinking: What natural cause would explain a conical protuberance flattening perfectly, merging into the surrounding seabed? Why would lines mapped to that cone look straight after the cone has flattened onto the seafloor? "

Source: Digg.com User pantherfan .
flakblas
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flakblas  |  February 21, 2009 01:27 PM
I got some canals on Mars to show you too.
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