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Google Working to Create virtual “Hike” Through Canadian Parks

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3 months ago

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This past April, it was reported that Google was going to map important trails and sites in Canadian natural parks from British Columbia’s Pacific Rim National Park to L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. The effort produced virtual hikes that visitors could use to explore trails in a sort of “try it before you buy it” type of visit.

The effort has proven beneficial and now Canadian Parks has announced that the digitizing effort will extend to a total of 70 parks across the country. The effort is designed to both boost tourism and also to allow Canadians to get in touch with the greatness their country has to offer.

Cliff Martin, the founder of OldWoodenCanoe.Ca says the new trail feature will allow more people to experience Canada’s great outdoors.

“this is great because not everyone has access to these beautiful places,” Martin said in an interview with eCanadaNow. “This will allow everyone (old, young, people with disabilities, etc) to have the opportunity to see how beautiful Canada’s back country is,”

Cyber-tourists will be able to view natural parks in a full 360 degrees with Google allowing them to experience the trails as if they were present. However, vehicle license plates and the faces of hikers are blurred for privacy concerns. The trails are visible as part of Google maps and are being done in cooperation with Parks Canada, but incur no costs to anyone but the silicon valley-based tech giant. Admittedly, there is no substitute for the actual experience of breathing in the fresh air and soothing sceneries.

There are plans to include 120 sites. So far you can explore:

Fort Langley National Historic Site.
Thousand Islands National Park.
Signal Hill National Historic Site.
Bellevue House National Historic Site.
Woodside National Historic Site.
Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site.
Rideau Canal National Historic Site.
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.
Merrickville Lockstation.
HMCS Haida National Historic Site.
Fort Walsh National Historic Site.
Province House National Historic Site.
Carriage Shed.
Glacier National Park.
Skyline Trail.
Prince Albert National Park.
Ardgowan National Historic Site.
L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site.
Redoute Dauphine.
York Redoubt National Historic Site.
Mount Revelstoke.
Morraine Lake.
Johnston Canyon.
The Forks.
Red Rock Canyon Trailhead.
Fort Wellington National Historic Site.
Waterton Lakes National Park.
Emerald Lake.
Bow Lake.
Green Gables Heritage Place.
Black Rapids Lockstation.
Grasslands National Park.
Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site.
Cape Spear.
Jeremys Bay.
Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site.
Ottawa Lockstation.
Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site.
Gros Morne National Park.
Lake Louise.
Kingston Mills Lockstation.
Arsenal Foundarie.
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site.
Montmorency Park National Historic Site.
Cave and Basin.
Gulf Islands National Park.
Yoho National Park.
Kejimkujik Dark Sky Preserve.
Castle Hill National Historic Site.
Ramparts of Quebec City.
Hogs Back Lockstation.
Grand Pre National Historic Site.
Batoche National Historic Site.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Cabot Tower.
Hartwell’s Lockstation.
Monument-Lefebvre National Historic Site.
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site.
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.
Jakes Landing.
Meadows in the Sky Parkway.
Banff National Park.
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site.
Kootenay National Park.
Riding Mountain National Park.
Elk Island National Park.
Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site.
Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site.
Riel House National Historic Site.
St Andrews Rectory National Historic Site.
Prince Edward Island National Park.
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic.
Officers Quarters.
Lévis Forts National Historic Site.
Terrasse Dufferin.
Artillery Park.
Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site.
Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site.
Promenade des Gouverneurs.
Fort Anne National Historic Site.
Jones Falls Lockstation.
Balsam Lake.
La Mauricie National Park.
Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail.
Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk.

On The Web:
Google and Parks Canada take viewers on an online tour of our national parks and historic sites
http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/news/national/Parks+Canada+Google+launch+virtual+online+tours+parks/9189717/story.html?rel=813152

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Tomas Carbry possesses a decade of journalism experience and consistently upholds rigorous standards. His focus areas include technology and global issues.