X

Google Maps, Street View take on polar bears, Canadian tundra (pictures)

Google takes a trip to the frozen Canadian north on a mission to encounter polar bears and the warming tundra.

Seth Rosenblatt
Senior writer Seth Rosenblatt covered Google and security for CNET News, with occasional forays into tech and pop culture. Formerly a CNET Reviews senior editor for software, he has written about nearly every category of software and app available.
Seth Rosenblatt
Y7TiwFYycT6oBDi6C3k567cFEaRS7vKMrualqzRJWzGLzfMNv2IAoUuZ1bHp6pMyNAaKM8mlg2BOreoo48QnWJcJ6jT3gZyLzCrvgQqK26FE6NrYIJRTqtty.png
1 of 10 Google

Google Maps tracks polar bears

The conservation group Polar Bears International uses Google Maps' API to track polar bears and their habits.
bR2dVcPa_Eq2HAVCrXAKJl1pVKHUYoe9IgmyVhHsog4oPm4pfsIy8BKG-PFiB7Vi5g=w1473-h628.jpeg
2 of 10 Google

Polar bear in the snow

This polar bear spied by the Street View camera attached to a "tundra buggy" looks to be doing its best to blend in with its surroundings.
WzFXswTZIzLtKKzHxUFKNYdKNBzK5K3AczKsH98734ncbAkAbUDFSRUGGBxBVdBmOw=w1473-h628.jpeg
3 of 10 Google

The warming frozen north

This aerial view of the tundra near Hudson Bay will help create a baseline so scientists can track the impact of climate change on the frozen north.
x6E8nje1SW6X9k9y7fDsMPi2pEGVCkgaoblK8px0wk0gxsaeL8K7csSS8n0IakO3Cw=w1473-h628.jpeg
4 of 10 Google

Mapping on the go

Google engineers map the tundra while on the go in the tundra buggy.
9QtQ0Di0hAfXgOfGY7KfaSFKfL_0S7tHFJi7-kvp-OdM9n3cpFEPJ1Ls0C6dZR7y_Q=w1473-h628.jpeg
5 of 10 Google

A good stretch for a bear

The Street View camera caught this polar bear checking out the tundra buggy.
FaywcxTIgGMarBKnM-o2JzcMSGDXHooudHSk8QXN98Ga9lKYUjeh9Uf1HQuKEitXcQ=w1473-h628.jpeg
6 of 10 Google

Google Maps and human residents of the tundra

Google asks residents of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, for help in identifying landmarks around their town.
l9dkOdJYO5d2IFw-dripy6ekHjyqjyhTQLjitEukCMlnC77XO99pxJGippMqVNwmQw=w1473-h628.jpeg
7 of 10 Google

Is this my good side?

The Street View camera captures another look at a polar bear...or is it the other way around?
MAcGXNawzp_SvRI5uDfeFfIXiSTbpSiazeIMsh7CXqvk3ww7VyMKIj-Vi13uipCnWw=w1473-h628.jpeg
8 of 10 Google

Bear versus machine

The tundra buggy, outfitted with a Google Street View camera, gets a once-over by a polar bear.
rDRUY7byRB5Em_ZkZOCsD7K66yXPhSCr3a9gRsk3M21KG1X8T7rlUydig29kVsgDQQ=w1473-h628.jpeg
9 of 10 Google

Polar bear at sunset

A polar bear sighted by the Google Street View-outfitted tundra buggy.
t_DEFsYx2zEIxJK4RhvfN--8kQzlmSlWIUaVFDN0z1SUFMZ_MVdJeDgHznTBYI8_Ng=w1473-h628.jpeg
10 of 10 Google

Is this my good side?

This polar bear decides to have a face-to-face with the Street View camera.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos