Over the years, the folks at Google Sightseeing have continually produced excellent content. They tend to use Google Maps for their views, so we always like to see how their locations look in Google Earth as well. In the past year or so, we’ve shown you some of their items such as the set of “Wipeout” and exploring the deserts.
Their latest feature covers the Top 5 Busiest Airports of 2011. Living in Atlanta, home of the world’s busiest airport, these kinds of stories always interest me. The numbers shown below are the total number of passengers from January-May, 2011. Let’s get to the list.
5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — 24,230,832 – KML
4. O’Hare International Airport (ORD) — 25,986,415 – KML
3. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) — 26,733,585 — KML
2. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) — 31,080,482 — KML
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — 36,548,629 — KML
Another neat image of the Atlanta Airport comes from the folks at Trendsmap. They captured all of the geo-located tweets in the Atlanta area over the course of a year, then plotted them against a dark background. The result is quite cool, as you can clearly see the various terminals of the airport, which are connected by underground tunnels. (details on Flickr)
For other interesting airports in Google Earth, check out the scariest airports in the Caribbean, or perhaps Peter Olsen’s amazing recreation of the 1977 Tenerife Airport disaster.
What’s your favorite airport in Google Earth?
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.
Hey, another one of my models (O’Hare) make the blog!!! 😉
It seems that GEB readers do not have favourite airports among the world’s busiest, so can I suggest something rather different – Barra Airport in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland uniquely located on tidal sands where the three ‘runways’ are washed clean by the sea twice a day, and twice daily flights serve the island.
For more details check the Wiki icon, and get good Street View images from the coastal road.
I usually use Google Maps but the new Google Earth has caught me attention and the imagery looks more detailed and fresh. Sometimes Google Maps has difficulties show real time results which is one reason I would prefer Google Earth.