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Marzo 29, 2007
Directions from Google: "Swim across the Atlantic Ocean"
This is very amusing! If you ask Google Earth or Google Maps for directions which require you to go across an ocean, then Google will give you those directions. For example, if you ask for directions from Boston, MA to London, UK (see step 9) it gives you driving directions to the coast and then will tell you to "Swim Across the Atlantic Ocean". Here's the same thing in Google Earth 
. Caution: following these directions may be hazardous to your health!
Note: this cross-ocean-direction thing only works with a limited number of cases for the places I tested. If you come up with other directions that work (especially other oceans), let me know by leaving a comment here. It does seem to work for other Atlantic journeys like "san diego, ca to berlin, germany" (at least with Google Maps, GE won't find that path). Also, there appears to be a bug with the directions path in GE (the path isn't set to stay above sea level - that would make sense if you tried to drive). This tip came from Philipp Lenssen of Google Blogoscoped.
Enviado por FrankTaylor at Marzo 29, 2007 01:53 PM
Comentarios
Enviado por: Globalwarming Awareness2007 at Marzo 29, 2007 02:39 PM
This blog is excellent!
Enviado por: Damián at Marzo 29, 2007 07:29 PM
I see that New York to London recommends you swim to France first then take a ferry to England (described as "Slight right at Dover - Boulougne-sur-Mer").
Also it takes the trouble to stear your swimming around the various islands on the way. It works out the entire journey as "about 29days 10 hours" I wonder how much of that is the swim.
Enviado por: Timothy at Marzo 30, 2007 05:35 AM
I tried going the other way from my home to a mate in the US (Great Kingshill, UK, to Williamstown, MA) and again there was a diversion through northern France. Similar timing of 29 days 10 hours, though presumably this is against the current?
Enviado por: Chaz at Marzo 30, 2007 09:20 AM
Boston, MA to Rome, Italy works. And you have to swim all the way to Le Havre :)
Enviado por: Javier at Marzo 30, 2007 07:07 PM
Looks like all entries into Europe are through one port in France. From there, it looks like you can drive throughout the continent (Lisbon, Rome, etc.). The directions even put you on a ferry to Dublin. Maps handles ferries (Seattle to Victoria, BC, and even Australia to Tasmania). I haven't found a Pacific route similar to swimming the Atlantic yet.
Enviado por: Stuart Goldman at Marzo 30, 2007 09:08 PM
It seems to work to other areas of Europe as well. One interesting thing is that you can now find directions for Russia (even as far as Irkutsk in Siberia)despite Russia lacking the road layer
Enviado por: nxdat at Abril 3, 2007 08:09 PM
For the person who wondered how much of the 29 days 10 hours was the swim... Trans Altantic swims are always New York to the single port in France (can't remember the name off the top of my head). If you click the link for the print view, it gives the time for each segement. The swim is listed as 29 days. A note for those interested, that works out to swimming at a pace faster than the men's world record for the 100m freestyle...for the entire 29 days!
Enviado por: Joe at Abril 12, 2007 10:53 AM
Going from Prudhoe Bay, AK to Novokuzneck, Russia is 12,618 miles
Enviado por: Chris at Abril 12, 2007 10:21 PM
here's another one
1. Go to google.com.
2. Click on More, then Maps
3. Click on Get Directions.
4. From: New York , New York .
5. To: Paris , France .
6. Then, read line #23.
Enviado por: silent at Abril 14, 2007 07:21 PM
Northern virginia to germany works. "Swim across the Atlantic Ocean 3,462 mi"
Enviado por: nerdy1 at Abril 14, 2007 08:00 PM
I got the same results with El Paso, TX to Madrid, Spain.
Enviado por: chasemice at Abril 17, 2007 07:30 PM
London UK to Topeka Kansas USA.
Google Earth told me to go across to France and swim across the Altantic ocean but I need to drive at the other end down some highways, I guess I will need to drag my car behind me when I swim.
I am curious why it doesn't direct you to the nearest airport and says "Get on a plane" or to a dock and says "Get on a ship" instead of telling me to fricken swim for 30 days.
Enviado por: Ghost at Abril 19, 2007 05:40 PM
Northern virginia to germany works. "Swim across the Atlantic Ocean 3,462 mi"
Enviado por: hotindir at Junio 21, 2007 08:59 AM
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The title suggests google wants everyone to ride bikes everywhere. I posit that that would be great.
Globalwarming Awareness2007