To help raise awareness about the fragility of the world's coral reef ecosystems, Google has just expanded its popular Street View application to provide users with an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef.
Google always has a new surprise up its sleeve, and this year’s World Oceans Day was no exception. According to the Brisbane Times, the technology giant has expanded its popular Street View tool to offer a rare glimpse of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. The 360-degree view captures fish, coral, and a variety of sea creatures in their natural habitat.
Google also sent its camera crews to locations in Bali, the Bahamas, the Maldives, and an Indonesian shipwreck. Photos were collected in partnership with the XL Catlin Seaview Survey, a project of the United States National Marine Sanctuaries and Chagos Conservation Trust.
According to staff from Google’s Ocean Program, they hope that the release of these images will inspire people to learn more about the oceans, which are an essential natural resource. Google’s efforts to document the ocean and changes over time will provide new insights into how we can direct conservation efforts, the team said.
Over the past thirty years, more than 40 percent of reef ecosystems have been damaged or lost due to pollution, commercial fishing activities, and changing climate. According to the Catlin Seaview Survey’s website, the destruction of coral reefs could negatively affect more than 500 million people that rely on food, tourism, and coastal protection from reefs.
Google’s new ocean views will fascinate everyone from marine biologists to the casual sea turtle fan. Without further ado, you can get to exploring by clicking here.
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