January 21, 2022, 1:15 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

There are various reasons why some places have been censored on Google Maps and are only partially visible. Some countries have explicitly requested Google to blur certain areas within their borders. These are usually military bases or nuclear power plants–anything not meant for prying eyes or potential targets for terrorist attacks.

Censored Places on Google Maps

Sometimes, places are obscured on Google Maps for inexplicable reasons. Perhaps by accident, or for reasons that simply aren’t meant to be public. Either way, TRAVELBOOK has found nine hidden places on Google Maps.

Also interesting: These 11 places you can now visit with Google Maps

CEA Marcoule, France

If you travel 30 kilometers north from the French city of Avignon, you’ll come across CEA Marcoule, a branch of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. However, on Google Maps satellite images, the area is not visible. It is pixelated, and the censorship was done “for research purposes,” as reported by “Urlaubsguru.”

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.

Faroe Islands, Denmark

A large part of the Faroe Islands is pixelated on Google Maps. Only the central part of the main island, where the capital Tórshavn is located, is clearly visible. Here, Google also allows zooming in. Why so much of the rest of the island is obscured remains Google’s secret.

Also interesting: Why the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands are a peculiar bunch

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: 23 rather curious images on Google Maps

Area 51 in Nevada, USA

Google Maps makes it impossible to view the mysterious Area 51. The military restricted area in the Nevada desert is fodder for various conspiracy theories: It’s said that alien research is conducted here, and nuclear bomb tests are also carried out in the area. Whether the rumors are true, we’ll probably never know, as access is strictly prohibited. Therefore, no one should be able to find out more about the restricted area on Google Maps–and so it is painted white.

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 mysterious underground tunnels in southern Germany

Samjiyon Military Airport (YJS), North Korea

One might assume North Korea is a single pixelated spot on the map. In fact, quite a bit of the country, which usually doesn’t like to reveal its secrets, is visible on Google Maps. Only the image of Samjiyŏn Military Airport in Ryanggang seems off: A gray filter has been used, and the airport is not fully visible.

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.

Longwave Transmitter near Rosnay, France

This mysterious place is located almost exactly in the middle of France. It is a longwave transmitter operated by the French Navy. Apparently, it is not meant to be recognized: On Google Maps, this place is shown very blurry and is hardly recognizable. Longwave transmitters are often used to send commands to submerged submarines.

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.

Gruinard Island, Scotland

Here, Google Maps almost looks like an impressionist masterpiece–because the Scottish island is shown blurred. This may be because chemical bombs were tested on Gruinard Island during World War II. The British military probably has an interest in ensuring that not everyone can immediately see what the island looks like today.

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.

Helipuerto de Cartagena, Los Dolores, Spain

Completely censored on Google Maps is a place in the Spanish city of Cartagena, specifically in the district of Los Dolores. According to a report by “Business Insider,” not much is known about the area called Helipuerto de Cartagena. Mysteriously, anyone who looks at the place with Google Street View sees only empty fields behind a fence…

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.

More on the topic

After Evaluations The 10 Most Popular Mini Golf Courses in Germany

Spring in Europe Tulip Paradises Close to Home – These Are the Best Day Trip Destinations

San Blas Islands, Caribbean

There are enough San Blas Islands for every day of the year: 365 islands belong to the group, but most of them are only visible as blurred on Google Maps. In the middle of the island group, a black bar is visible on Google Maps–everything to the left of the bar is sharp, everything to the right is heavily pixelated. Due to the clear edges and the obvious quality differences, it could also be a satellite error.

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.

Nuclear Facility Marcoule, France

In very low resolution and thus hardly recognizable, Google Maps shows the Nuclear Facility Marcoule in southern France. The nuclear power plant has been decommissioned since 1984, but the site still hosts activities such as fuel element reprocessing and research.

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.