24 years ago this week, Google was founded. What started as a search engine designed to 'organise the world's information' quickly morphed into one of the most powerful technology companies in the world.

Today, Google now runs much of the Internet, sells us smartphones, and even gives us directions.

Google Maps is possibly one of Google's most-used apps, helping all of us find our way. But it doesn't just help people find out where to go.

READ NEXT: Weirdest Reddit communities sees people staple bread to trees and build 'long Furbies'

Eagle-eyed Google Map users have uncovered some truly weird and disturbing locations on the app.

Bigfoot in the woods and Area 51 UFOs

As well as providing everyone with directions, Google Maps is a great tool for the tin foil hat brigade who spend hours scouring the planet for evidence of the supernatural or extraterrestrial.

Sometimes, though, it seems to come up trumps. One TikToker said they found a giant 'Bigfoot'-like creature in the woods in Russia, as well as a giant 'snake' in France (that turned out to be an art installation).

It seems that Google is aware of how its Maps app is being used and has filled it with little conspiracy-themed Easter eggs in response. For example, if you try to drag the Street View 'ragdoll' into Area 51, it turns into a UFO.

  • WhatsApp issues warning as app will stop working on certain devices within weeks

Abandoned 'ghost city' in the desert on Google Maps

One Google Maps find that left many Internet users baffled is an abandoned 'ghost city'.

Earlier this year a Reddit user shared an image of what looks like a series of pyramid-shaped fortresses made out of sand as well as abandoned buildings and a runway.

However, it turns out that the find is actually a giant art installation in Nevada called 'City', built by artist and sculptor Michael Heizer. More than a mile in length, it is the largest modern artwork ever built. It only opened this month after 50 years of construction.

  • Elden Ring named 'the most confusing game of the year' – it's not hard to see why

Google Maps terrifying 'murder scene'

Possibly the scariest Google Maps find of all is on a remote, uninhabited island off of the coast of Tanzania.

Irugwa Island has no roads but Google Maps users discovered something horrible when they dropped the Street View man onto the island.

Maps transports you to a poorly-lit industrial building where a computer-generated man holds a knife over a body. The walls are splattered with blood and there is even graffiti with the words "you're too late, turn back now."

  • Elon Musk says Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot will eventually cost 'less than a car'

One Reddit user said: "Genuinely thought I was seeing things at first, but nope, it's all real, complete with writing on the wall that states the following: 'You're too late. Turn back now.', 'You trusted the wrong guy.' and 'Liar. Traitor.'"

As Google Maps covers nearly the entire world (except North Korea), there's countless more strange discoveries to be made, from secretive censored islands to 'star destroyers'.

What have you found on the tool, besides directions to the train station?

READ MORE:

  • 'One man SpaceX' builds a rocket just like Elon Musk's
  • Anonymous hackers take over Russia's largest taxi firm and cause massive traffic jam
  • Art contest winner whose work was automatically generated by AI accused of 'cheating'
  • Japanese government declares all out 'war' on floppy disks 11 years after becoming obsolete
  • Mum bought luxury home after £6.25m appeared in her bank account but it's all gone wrong

Source: Read Full Article