What a coincidence! I just had my birthday, too! And it turns out Google Earth is also celebrating a big milestone: 20 years of letting us explore the world from our screens.

Remember the first time you zoomed from your street to the pyramids? Or when you spent hours “traveling” across continents without leaving your chair?

Since its launch in 2005 when it was downloaded over 100 million times in just one week, Google Earth has become more than just a map. It’s been a tool for discovery, adventure, and even real-life miracles.

More than just a map

Over the years, Google Earth has helped first responders coordinate after disasters like Hurricane Katrina, aided scientists in spotting hidden coral reefs, and even helped Saroo Brierley reunite with his long-lost family, a story so incredible it inspired the film Lion.

It’s more than just technology. It’s a way to glimpse the countless stories unfolding across our world.

A Birthday Gift: Travel through time

To mark its 20th birthday, Google Earth is giving us a nostalgic gift: historical Street View. Now you can roll back the clock and see how your neighborhood (or anywhere else) has changed over the years.

Think of it as a global photo album, ready for you to flip through anytime.

Tools for telling your story

Over the years, Google Earth has also launched features like Timelapse (so you can watch cities grow and forests shrink) and custom tools that let you build your own tours and maps.

It’s become indispensable for professionals too. From urban planners to scientists keeping tabs on climate change.

Here’s to the next 20

After two decades, Google Earth is still helping us explore, dream, and understand our world, one click at a time.

Here’s to the next chapter of discoveries, stories, and adventures. Happy birthday to us both!