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The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#31
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure that's censored, at least by Google, I think it's just bad data. The copyright at higher zooms is shown as NASA, which would have used Landsat. In the Landsat archive, there are numerous satellite images for that region, though low quality: https://landsatlook.usgs.gov/viewer.html Seems likely nobody at Google has taken the effort to do anything about it because who uses Google Maps to look at antarctica…

Secret military installations in Antarctica is not unfathomable. You should read this: http://idlewords.com/2016/05/shuffleboard_at_mcmurdo.htm

It could also be a mine or refinery. In this interview, Admiral Byrd says there are significant coal, oil and Uranium deposits (skip to 7m30s):

https://youtube.com/watch?v=czW0iRJuH1A

Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#33
post #2

I'm really curious why this 14 mile strip of Antarctica is censored: https://www.google.com/maps/place/70%C2%B010'04.0%22S+87%C2%... Satellite map images with missing or unclear data: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_map_images_with_miss...

also censored on https://zoom.earth/#-70.166939,87.824707,11z,sat

Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#34
post #24
post #2

I'm really curious why this 14 mile strip of Antarctica is censored: https://www.google.com/maps/place/70%C2%B010'04.0%22S+87%C2%... Satellite map images with missing or unclear data: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_map_images_with_miss...

I'm not sure that's censored, at least by Google, I think it's just bad data. The copyright at higher zooms is shown as NASA, which would have used Landsat. In the Landsat archive, there are numerous satellite images for that region, though low quality: https://landsatlook.usgs.gov/viewer.html Seems likely nobody at Google has taken the effort to do anything about it because who uses Google Maps to look at antarctica…

I love diplomatic shitstorms.

Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#35
post #2

I'm really curious why this 14 mile strip of Antarctica is censored: https://www.google.com/maps/place/70%C2%B010'04.0%22S+87%C2%... Satellite map images with missing or unclear data: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_map_images_with_miss...

I would guess that this was a gap in coverage from one source of data, that was filled in with data from another. The edges just try and blend the two sources together.

Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#36
post #4

Related is the story of Soviet maps. The Soviets had engaged in a monumental effort to map the world and then during the collapse in one of the republics the classified stack of maps got in the hands of Westerners: https://www.sovietmaps.com/ Here is a longer article about it: https://www.wired.com/2015/07/secret-cold-war-maps/ And also the map of San Francisco from the 80s: http://i.imgur.com/SdmmFUd.jpg

1980s CIA album has map of central Moscow. On it, subway stations and embassies are marked (that's the expected), gas stations (okay) and also churches (what's weird). Nothing more, just embassies and churches. Would like to hear a story here. Baghdad's 2003 map has basically the same set of POI.

Churches are useful landmarks. Probably quite useful for navigation and even locating photography.

Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#37
post #8

I'm a bit surprised that this one was declassified given the sensitive nature of the content. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ciagov/5988128522/in/album-721...

Wait, was this actually classified to begin with? If so, it's a case study in how that power is misused...

Rammo plays with a stick. For more information on the CIA, visit www.cia.gov.

Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#38
post #4

Related is the story of Soviet maps. The Soviets had engaged in a monumental effort to map the world and then during the collapse in one of the republics the classified stack of maps got in the hands of Westerners: https://www.sovietmaps.com/ Here is a longer article about it: https://www.wired.com/2015/07/secret-cold-war-maps/ And also the map of San Francisco from the 80s: http://i.imgur.com/SdmmFUd.jpg

What are the little planes on the San Francisco map? Surely there aren't 12 airstrips in the San Francisco bay. Unless that includes helipads...

Re: The CIA Is Sharing Declassified Maps

#39
post #4

Related is the story of Soviet maps. The Soviets had engaged in a monumental effort to map the world and then during the collapse in one of the republics the classified stack of maps got in the hands of Westerners: https://www.sovietmaps.com/ Here is a longer article about it: https://www.wired.com/2015/07/secret-cold-war-maps/ And also the map of San Francisco from the 80s: http://i.imgur.com/SdmmFUd.jpg

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