Adrian Mühlroth

July 10, 2021, 7:24 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

1. U.S. Naval Base Chinhae, South Korea

Since September 2026, Google has been obscuring South Korean and U.S. military installations in South Korea. This includes isolated locations within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea. Even historical map material has been retroactively edited. The change is part of an agreement with South Korea that allows Google to access its high-resolution map material.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

2. Missing Coordinates, North Korea

Part of the security agreement with South Korea is that Google does not provide Maps coordinates for North Korea within 35 kilometers north of the DMZ. While the map material is high-resolution in many places, locations within this zone cannot be found using coordinates.

3. Nuclear Reprocessing Plant La Hague, France

The La Hague reprocessing plant is one of the many security-relevant facilities in France that must be obscured in aerial images. This is based on the so-called “Zones interdites à la captation aérienne de données” (ZICAD). These include not only nuclear facilities but also military bases, prisons, government buildings, and certain industrial facilities.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

4. Palais de l’Alma, France

The Palais de l’Alma is one of France’s particularly protected state facilities and is used by the presidential administration, among others. Therefore, the site falls under French protection regulations for sensitive locations, whose aerial and satellite images may only be published in an obscured form.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

4. Command Center of Polish Special Forces, Poland

The command and training center is located just outside Krakow. Even in Street View, the area is completely obscured. Google responded to a request from the Polish Ministry of Defense to cover a whole range of military facilities. Previously, Polish media had discovered that the bases, along with equipment and personnel, had been publicly visible on Google Maps for years. publicly visible on Google Maps for years.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

5. Chopin Airport, Poland

Even beyond military installations, Poland is a good example of targeted obscuring of facilities important for national security. For Warsaw Chopin Airport, Google has completely obscured the tarmac and runways–including military elements connected to the airport. The civilian terminals are not affected.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

6. Blurred Map Material, Israel

In Israel, satellite images were long intentionally lower resolution due to a U.S. law. The so-called Kyl-Bingaman Amendment has restricted the resolution of commercial images of Israel by U.S. providers since 1997 for security reasons. In 2020, the limit was relaxed from 2 meters to 40 centimeters, but Google still presents the region on Maps with less detail and does not allow the same magnification as in other countries.

More on the topic

Presented in the Video 10 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Series We Love

Ascension Day False Closures on Google Maps Disrupt Traffic in Germany

7. Doel Nuclear Power Plant, Belgium

Belgium has similarly strict regulations as France when it comes to protecting strategically important facilities. Therefore, Google Maps is not allowed to show the two Belgian nuclear power plants, Doel (near Antwerp) and Tihange, in high resolution.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

Also interesting: The 9 Creepiest Wikipedia Entries

Bonus: Vostok Island, Kiribati

The uninhabited Pacific island of Vostok appears blacked out on Google Earth, which has even sparked conspiracy theories about a secret military base.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

In fact, the island, which belongs to Kiribati, is merely covered by extremely dense, dark Pisonia grandis forest, which appears almost black from the air.