Western Guatemala google earth image. What is it?

Hi All

I've spotted this while looking on google maps.

There is about a 10 by 8 kilometre 'L' carved into the ground.

map link
google maps link

Normally I think that it's forest clearing, which in this case might be the right answer, but there are significant 'star-like' patterns in each 2km square and the surface looks rocky, not to mention the two squares at each end of the 'L'

Another interesting thing about this location is if you zoom out on the map, it's exactly in the middle of the atlantic and pacific ocean juncture. if you zoom out

I've tried to look for this area on guatamalan travel info, tourist maps etc, but nothing and I can't find any thing about it in the nearby town maps.

Is this just a forest clearing?

Pretty nasty if it is.

Maybe, the terrain map shows that the wooded areas left are raised and may be man made ruin sites. The L shows as a slight depression.

I couldn't get coordinates off that map you posted, do you have them? If you can find out the village name it would be helpful.

I saw one google earth like this before that turned out to be Honduran National Guard rifle range - not that I think this is one.

George Bush's ranch.

the coordinates are

+16° 47' 34.34", -90° 34' 11.08"

it's about 50km east of a 'grid' town called Frontera Corozal

and a similar town the same distance to the south called Santa Maria.

looks like a guerrilla greenhouse for weed.

It appears to be a building. the star patterns are roofs, the lighter gray areas are gravel driveways maybe, whatever it is, it is sensitive, and its makeshift to a certain extent. I say this because you cannot zoom in anymore, and it looks like its pretty recent because if the zooming isn't there, and it hasn't been whitewashed so to speak, then its probably been put up fairly quickly. Why I say it is makeshift. maybe huge huge tents? An archeological dig? I've seen forest clearings, that is not a forest clearing. It looks like the massive tents put up in Mecca recently for the Hajj. I dunno if those are still up, if they are maybe you can cross analyze.

reply to post by middleclasssoldier


Actually, come to think of it, that's exactly what it looks like.

reply to post by M157yD4wn


Thanks for weighing in !

Each one of the 'squares' is about 1 by 1 km. That's a pretty big tent.

also I'd agree about the tents maybe if the edges of each one of those shapes was uniform, they are not as straight as tent canvas edges that can actually still hold the tent canvas up.

Ahhh. Its probably one of those dand nabbit top-secreat government buildings where the aliens shoot pool with jeasus. Nuna our bisniuess!

reply to post by M157yD4wn

It appears to be a building.

That is very unlikely. Look at the legend in the lower left corner, showing distance. It is roughly 6 miles by 5 miles.

Edited due to typing gremlins.

Suffice it to say, great find. I was going in the building direction as well, however, it just to big an area. So in all honesty, I'm not sure what to make of it.

[edit on 4-1-2009 by Osiris1953]

I think I may have figured it out. If you zoom in on the "L" area to the highest magnification possible, you will see "2006 Google" in the white areas. If you then move over slightly to the right, in the green areas, you will see "2005 Google" on those areas. I believe that the different cloud, weather conditions led to the patchwork that you see, This is similar to the "Center of Greenland anomaly" posted several months ago on ATS.

This is near Peten and the extensive ruins that surround it. Off hand I'd say it a cleared area in support of that function.

It also appears to be in the or near the Maya Biosphere Reserve


[edit on 4/1/09 by Hanslune]

Originally posted by Hanslune
Maybe, the terrain map shows that the wooded areas left are raised and may be man made ruin sites. The L shows as a slight depression.

I couldn't get coordinates off that map you posted, do you have them? If you can find out the village name it would be helpful.

I saw one google earth like this before that turned out to be Honduran National Guard rifle range - not that I think this is one.

Just a side note here. The coordinates for Google Earth Maps is incoded in the URL. Go place the cuser over the link and right click. Then click on properties. Just in case any one is interested in such things.

reply to post by Hanslune

You mean like a carpark or entry area to Peten? I'd agree, if there was anything on tourist maps about it, and it's also about 20 km away from Peten

And the size of this area is quite large, I'm surprised I can't find anything about it.

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


good spotting ProfEmeritus! Can the big squares at either end of the L be explained by this too ?

Looks like a mosiac of pictures taken at different dates, I see a lot of those when I'm pulling up people's addresses.
I've seen some pretty weird addresses on GE, one was at a certain level you'd get a highly zoomed square that would appear at a certain level, disappear at any other zoom level.
If it's been checked on ther map services does it appear?
I know they are generally blocking several army bases from GE and other map sites, maybe this is related?

reply to post by Hanslune


That cleared area is near three major archaeological sites, Yaxchilan, Altar de Scarificos and Peten itself which surrounded by major sites also.

Altar is 5 Klicks to the SE and Yaxchilan is 8-10 klicks to the NW

So most probably an archaelogical site - but rather clear cut for just that.

reply to post by FlakeMaker

Can the big squares at either end of the L be explained by this too

Yes, I've found many instances similar to the Guatemalan one, and in each case, it was the patchwork at different times that caused what looked like a genuine artifact.