Mystery spot on Google Maps?

The Carnivore · 2020-09-28, 15:01

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:

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2434.../data=!3m1!1e3

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.

retina · 2020-09-28, 15:20

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.

It's probably just a flaw in the image file.

xilman · 2020-09-28, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by retina

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.

It's probably just a flaw in the image file.

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.

xilman · 2020-09-28, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

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.

What looks like an interesting crater about 20m across at https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2245.../data=!3m1!1e3 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.

matzetoni · 2020-09-28, 15:42

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

a1call · 2020-09-28, 16:17

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

xilman · 2020-09-28, 16:32

The end of the road at https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2229.../data=!3m1!1e3 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?

Uncwilly · 2020-09-28, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by retina

It's probably just a flaw in the image file.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

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.

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.

PhilF · 2020-09-28, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

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.

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

Dr Sardonicus · 2020-09-28, 18:53

My guess is a missile facility of some sort.

I did find some news articles like this one 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.

Uncwilly · 2020-09-28, 19:03

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.

2020-09-28, 15:01	#1
The Carnivore Jun 2010 2²·5·13 Posts	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: https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2434.../data=!3m1!1e3 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. Attached Thumbnails Last fiddled with by The Carnivore on 2020-09-28 at 15:02

2020-09-28, 15:42	#5
matzetoni Feb 2019 1100001₂ Posts	Have you also seen this perfect soccer field in the nearby town Bagaxiang? Attached Thumbnails

2020-09-28, 16:32	#7
xilman Bamboozled! "𒉺𒌌𒇷𒆷𒀭" May 2003 Down not across 11640₁₀ Posts	The end of the road at https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2229.../data=!3m1!1e3 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? Last fiddled with by xilman on 2020-09-28 at 16:33

2020-09-28, 19:03	#11
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 5×7×311 Posts	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. Attached Thumbnails

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
EC2 Spot Instance stop & resume	Mark Rose	Cloud Computing	23	2018-01-30 22:32
Spot the Difference	a1call	Miscellaneous Math	34	2017-12-11 00:17
Unbounded maps	jasong	jasong	11	2012-12-31 22:01
Pseudo-random maps over an elliptic curve	ColdFury	Math	4	2007-05-29 21:30
Error always at exact same spot...	Unregistered	Hardware	37	2006-12-13 16:15

2020-09-28, 15:20	#2
retina Undefined "The unspeakable one" Jun 2006 My evil lair 6678₁₀ Posts	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. It's probably just a flaw in the image file.

2020-09-28, 16:17	#6
a1call "Rashid Naimi" Oct 2015 Remote to Here/There 2,333 Posts	Looks like a pool of water to my eyes, if the Dark blue area is being referenced.: smile:

2020-09-28, 18:53	#10
Dr Sardonicus Feb 2017 Nowhere 2×3³×5×23 Posts	My guess is a missile facility of some sort. I did find some news articles like this one 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.