Navigation apps are essential especially if you are a travel enthusiast — they not only simplify your journey but also help you discover new places along the way.
Google Maps is one such app that excels at this. However, despite all its pros there are also cons — and one notable con is certainly its tendency to hide certain locations.
Let’s explore some of the forbidden coordinates on Google Maps and the reasons behind their concealment.
7- The Mysterious Existence Of Sandy Island
There’s a phantom island — or Sandy Island that has been hidden by Google Maps since 2012.
Mapped since 1774 near New Caledonia in the South Pacific, it now appears only as a faint outline on Google Maps.
First charted by Captain James Cook, it was noted in his 1776 publication. Historically, it was 14.9 miles long and 3.1 miles wide.
By 1876, whaling ships reported its presence, and it appeared on 19th-century British and German maps. Doubts grew as sea charts marked it with — ED (existence doubtful).
The French Hydrographic Service removed it in 1979. In 2012, Australian scientists found no trace of the island, leading Google to remove it from Maps on November 26, 2012.
The most sensible theory suggests Captain Cook might have seen pumice sea rafts from underwater volcanoes.
6- Amchitka Island And America’s Atomic Experiments
If you search for this island in the Aleutian Chain, you’ll notice that more than half of it is obscured.
In the late 1950s, the US Atomic Energy Commission chose Amchitka as the site for underground nuclear tests.
Three underground nuclear tests were carried out on Amchitka Island: Long Shot, an 80-kiloton explosion in 1965; Milrow, a 1-megaton explosion in 1969; and Cannikin, a 5-megaton explosion in 1971.
Cannikin remains the largest underground nuclear test ever conducted by the United States.
Today, Amchitka is closely monitored for any radioactive leakage. In 2025, it is scheduled to be designated as a restricted-access wildlife preserve.
5- The Infamous Area 51
Area 51, located 135 kilometers north of Las Vegas in the Nevada desert, is a US Air Force base shrouded in secrecy.
Known for testing top-secret projects like the Lockheed U-2 spy plane and F-117 stealth plane, it has sparked numerous theories about extraterrestrial life.
This secrecy, where workers couldn’t reveal their work to their families, fueled such speculations. During the 1950s, testing of high-altitude U-2 aircraft led many to report UFO sightings, mistaking these secretive planes for extraterrestrial crafts.
Even today, despite the declassification of some documents in 2013 confirming its existence and purpose, daily activities at Area 51 remain unknown, and its imagery is hidden on Google Maps.
Attempting to use Street View amusingly places the user in a flying saucer, reinforcing its association with UFO lore.
4- HAARP And All Its Secrets
The High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program or HAARP as it is often known as. HAARP is situated in Gakona, Alaska — and has been a subject of intrigue and speculation.
Funded by the US Air Force, Navy, and DARPA — HAARP’s main purpose is to study and enhance the ionosphere, aiding in radio communications and surveillance.
While the HAARP facility is somewhat visible on Google Maps, its image is notably over-saturated with white, obscuring almost all details.
Its existence and vaguely presented purpose has led to conspiracy theories concerning its operations and intentions.
The program’s affiliation with advanced military projects, as well as its rather opaque portrayal on Google Maps — keeps on fueling public intrigue and speculation regarding its true nature and capabilities.
3- The Imposing Fortress Of Fort Eben-Emael
Situated close to the Belgian-Dutch border, between the towns of Liège and Maastricht, lies the medieval military fort known as Fort Eben-Emael.
Built between 1931 and 1935, it was designed to defend Belgium from potential German attacks. At the time of its construction, it was the largest fort of its kind and considered to be impenetrable.
However, on May 10, 1940, during World War II, a small group of 85 German soldiers managed to neutralize the fort in a daring and innovative assault using glider planes.
This incident was an important event in military history because it showed how effective airborne forces can be and how opinions toward fortress defenses may change.
Today, Fort Eben-Emael is obscured on Google Maps, meaning its precise details and layout are not clearly visible on the platform.
2- Israel
The Kyl–Bingaman Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 1997 mandates that all US — based mapping services, including Google Maps, show Israel in low resolution.
This amendment, titled — Prohibition on collection and release of detailed satellite imagery relating to Israel, directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Agency to regulate the distribution of high-resolution images of Israel.
As a result, when users zoom in on Israel on these platforms, the images quickly become blurry. Despite ongoing reviews of the amendment, images of Israel and the Gaza Strip remain in low resolution.
1- Babylon And Its Mysterious Blackout On Google Maps
Babylon, Iraq, stands as one of the most significant ancient cities in history, yet it remains a region entirely censored on Google.
The exact reason for hiding Babylon is still unclear, though several theories have been proposed.
Among the many claims is the suggestion that the area might be associated with a “radar or missile interception system.”
Points To Ponder
The places mentioned are just a few examples from around the world that remain hidden for reasons that are not fully understood.
Despite our highly connected and transparent world, some of these restricted places provide a glimpse into the world of secrecy and intrigue that persist.
Whether due to national security concerns or privacy issues, these sites continue to captivate those who are drawn to the mysterious and unknown.
Written By: Faze.
This article was originally published on Medium.