The world is vast and beautiful, but not everyone can afford to explore it.
Luckily, Google Maps is dedicated to bringing its users to every corner of the earth. What started in 2007 as a van taking pictures of streets in five cities has evolved into a huge endeavor that spans all seven continents, over 65 countries, and more than 7 million miles.
Using everything from cars to snowmobiles, bikes, dogsleds, and even a40-pound, 15-lens camera attached to a backpack, Google continues to map our planet. And during that quest, it's captured some truly unbelievable sights.
We scoured the Google Street View website to see some of the most beautiful places that have ever been captured.
Keep scrolling to see the 23 most beautiful pictures you can find on Google Street View.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is easily the most breathtaking mosque in the world. The ornate building is huge and can hold 40,000 worshippers.
Source: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center
Explore the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque here.
A Google camera captured Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland. You can see how low visibility is in Loch Ness because of its high peat concentration.
Source: Historic Scotland
Explore Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle here.
Wilson Island is one of the most gorgeous places in the Great Barrier Reef. This Google shot of the island's sunset is spectacular.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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