Welcome home to the new Google Earth

Nearly everyone who's opened Google Earth in the last decade does the same thing first: they search for their home. Home is how we orient ourselves—it's where we start from. This might mean the apartment buildings overlooking the Mediterranean in Alexandria or the Red Sea in Jeddah.

Then we zoom out. We see our neighborhood, then our city, our province, our country, our continent, and eventually: our blue marble. Out in space, our planet looks impossibly small. But improbably, it’s home to all of us. On the eve of Earth Day, I'm reminded of something I've learned watching people use Google Earth over the years: Home is not just how we understand our place in the world, it is a means to connect to something bigger than ourselves.

Explore the new Google Earth
Today we’re introducing a brand-new version of Google Earth, two years in the making. With the new Earth, we want to open up different lenses for you to see the world and learn a bit about how it all fits together; to open your mind with new stories while giving you a new perspective on the locations and experiences you cherish. It’s everything you love about Google Earth, plus new ways for you to explore, learn and share. Zoom in and see what adventures await you in the new Google Earth:

Broaden your horizons with Voyager
We've joined up with some of the world's leading storytellers, scientists and nonprofits to bring the planet to life with Voyager, a showcase of interactive guided tours.

Walk alongside the elusive snow leopard in BBC's Natural Treasures.
Start with Natural Treasures from BBC Earth, and journey to six habitats—from islands to mountains to jungles—and learn about the unique and thrilling wildlife in each. Then head to one of the Islands in the Arabian Gulf which transform into a home for the Socotra cormorants. And make a stop in Jordan and learn about the history of the Nabateans as you browse through the ancient city of Petra. With more than 50 immersive stories in Voyager, and more added weekly, there are lots of adventures to choose from.

Explore and learn about anywhere
Uncovers hidden gems the world over. with “I’m feeling lucky,” a new feature that takes you somewhere unexpected with the click of a button. You might discover one of Zaha Hadid’s architectural works, or the neighbourhood which surrounds the stunning Burj Khalifa in Dubai, or the Zao Hot Spring in Yamagata, Japan. We’ve curated 20,000 different places, so roll the dice and see where the world takes you.


Bringing it all back Home
We hope that after visiting your house in the new Google Earth, you'll be inspired to see someone else’s. Get started with a special Voyager story called This is Home, a journey into traditional homes from cultures around the world. You’re invited to step inside a Bedouin tent in Jordan’s Wadi Rum, or a Greenlandic IIoq, and meet the people who live there. Check back to visit more homes in the coming month.

This is Home
Get the new Google Earth now on the web in Chrome; on Android as it rolls out this week; and on iOS and other browsers in the near future. Hold it in your hand, pass it around a classroom, fly around the world and walk inside places thousands of miles away in incredible detail. Feel free to lose yourself a little—with Google Earth you can always find your way back home.