Mystery spot on Google Maps?
 

While randomly browsing Google Maps, I came across an area in southwest China that has been pixelated out even though it appears to be in the middle of nowhere:

[URL]https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2434052,81.2764876,17658m/data=!3m1!1e3[/URL]

Any theories on what's really there? Secret military base? Re-education/concentration camp for Tibetans? Xi's vacation home?

Heck, Google Maps shows clearer pictures of Area 51 and the White House.

If there is some sort of human habitable structure there then the inhabitants must very hardy. That is rugged terrain more than 5km above sea level. And a lack of access infrastructure (no road or rail entry) means either underground tunnels or airborne ingress/egress only.

[size=1]It's probably just a flaw in the image file.[/size]

[QUOTE=retina;558123]If there is some sort of human habitable structure there then the inhabitants must very hardy. That is rugged terrain more than 5km above sea level. And a lack of access infrastructure (no road or rail entry) means either underground tunnels or airborne ingress/egress only.

[size=1]It's probably just a flaw in the image file.[/size][/QUOTE]Zooming in shows clear evidence of a road of sorts, including some side-tracks which appear to go nowhere.

There are also some circular features about 20m across to the north of the obscure area.

I would guess some sort of military testing site for explosive devices.

[QUOTE=xilman;558124]Zooming in shows clear evidence of a road of sorts, including some side-tracks which appear to go nowhere.

There are also some circular features about 20m across to the north of the obscure area.

I would guess some sort of military testing site for explosive devices.[/QUOTE]

What looks like an interesting crater about 20m across at [url]https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2245711,81.2201583,154m/data=!3m1!1e3[/url] and what looks like two slit trenches about 50m from it to the south east, near the end of a side track. Must have been a fairly big bang to dig that one, if it isindeed a crater.

Have you also seen this perfect soccer field in the nearby town Bagaxiang?

Looks like a pool of water to my eyes, if the Dark blue area is being referenced.: smile:

The end of the road at [url]https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2229563,81.213442,309m/data=!3m1!1e3[/url] looks especially interesting to me.

It ends abruptly in a straight line perpendicular to the road. There is some suggestion that the perpendicular straight line extends some metres to each side of the road.

Could it be the entrance to a tunnel? If so, why would anyone want to build a tunnel in a spot as remote as that and why would anyone want to hide an adjacent area? And what the heck is a rhetorical question anyway?

[QUOTE=retina;558123][size=1]It's probably just a flaw in the image file.[/size][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=xilman;558124]There are also some circular features about 20m across to the north of the obscure area.

I would guess some sort of military testing site for explosive devices.[/QUOTE]
I think that you are both right. There is still data in the white area. Also, there are 2 lines that look like data issues. I tried to access some image sources that I have that are independent. But, they don't work in that part of the world.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;558145]I think that you are both right. There is still data in the white area. Also, there are 2 lines that look like data issues. I tried to access some image sources that I have that are independent. But, they don't work in that part of the world.[/QUOTE]

I'll take a flight over it in FS2020 and (hopefully) report back. Assuming I am not assassinated first.

My guess is a missile facility of some sort.

I did find some news articles like [url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/new-satellite-imagery-suggests-china-developing-missile-bases-to-cover-doklam-naku-la/story-RbrowNVSdOqn8DT5Ri09kL.html]this one[/url] from August about the Chinese building SAM bases near Lake Manasarovar. The Kailash-Manasarovar region is sacred to adherents of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jaonism, and Bon-po. The "mystery spot" is about 10 miles from Mount Kailash.

You can see it here in Sept of 2018. The road goes in after July of 2015. The craters have been there since at least 2009.