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November 21, 2008
Google Earth Captures Tsunami Striking Fiji Island
It's a Friday, so I thought I would share with you this interesting find from GEB reader Peter K. It appears Google Earth captured a giant tsunami about to strike this remote island in the Pacific. You can see it yourself right here 
. No tricks, this is really inside Google Earth! However, this isn't a real wave. Instead this is an anomalie in Google Earth's terrain data. The world is a big place, and 3D terrain data is based on billions of data points and then later processed to remove errors. However, not all errors are properly processed, so you occasionally get anomalies like this. These errors can be reported to the GE Data Error Compendium, and eventually Google fixes them.
Here are some other interesting data errors found (terrain, imagery, and other errors). Some of these errors may have been fixed, but others are still there:
- Taylor Monument
- Double Chicago Building Error - still there!
- Giant Bug Found in Germany
- Cruise Ship Goes Off Edge of Google Earth
- Planes in Formation - Faked!
- Unidentified Flying Water Object
- Giant Building Found in Google Earth
- Funky Buildings in Google Earth
Posted by FrankTaylor at November 21, 2008 8:00 AM
Comments
Posted by: Anon at November 21, 2008 10:55 AM
Then this is the Atlantis sinking...
http://i34.tinypic.com/b5k75i.jpg
(You have the UTM on the photo).
Posted by: peich at November 21, 2008 5:47 PM
Posted by: peich at November 21, 2008 5:51 PM
There is another one on a neighbouring island:
16° 5'31.23"S, 179° 9'17.48"W
I haven't reported this.
Posted by: David at November 21, 2008 8:17 PM
i have posted in google earth comunity, a mistake of the same type, i giant wave off an island in Seychelles, it was in 2006, it appears they have not corrected it up even now. here is the position
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Number=471179
there is a second terrain defect just north of it in the famous Aldabra atoll
Posted by: Alsay at November 22, 2008 5:30 PM
This is amazing. The Google earth program is amazing piece of work.
Posted by: Nick Stamoulis at November 24, 2008 9:45 AM
Please re image my city of nizamabad in andhrapradesh india.
SATTELITE CAMERA Image of my city is too old , my city is corporation and district capital , it is very disheartening to see other small town's new images with advanced illusion but my city being bigger than them looks very bad and old,
Please help and paste new camera view of "NIZAMABAD" ANDHRA PRADEH INDIA
Posted by: arif at November 27, 2008 10:14 AM
Post a comment:
NOTE: Please use English. Comments are moderated.
Bonjour,
Pardonnez-moi, but you've translated the English word "anomaly" into the french "anomalie".
But, interessant stuff...
GE does create erreurs.
A bientot,
Anon