These 10 places CANNOT appear on Google Maps

Google Maps is one of the tools that has most revolutionized cartography and people's mobility around the globe.

Today, it's very simple to find directions to a place and know exactly where your destination is, even with photos and reviews. But did you know that there are places that do not appear in the tool?

There are some “hidden” places in the Google Maps which, for some reasons -some mysterious and secretive- cannot appear in the application.

Here we separate 10 of these places that are hidden in Maps and a little of the history behind each of these mysteries. Let's go?

10 hidden and mysterious places on Google Maps

2208 Seymour Avenue (USA)

There is a house on Seymour Avenue, in Ohio, in the United States, which is censored by Google Maps. Instead of an image of the location, there is a large blur.

That's because it was the scene of horrendous crimes between 2002 and 2004. Three women were captured, tortured and held captive until 2013, when one of the victims escaped and sought help.

Patio dos Laranjais (Spain)

The Patio de los Naranjos, or Courtyard of Orange Trees, is in the municipality of Almería, Spain. However, on Google Maps, the area is a big blur.

There is no official reason, but the most accepted theory is that there are Spanish government buildings on the site and, therefore, it is classified.

Jeannette Island (Russia)

Jeannette Island is in the East Siberian Sea. It is an ice-covered territory, whose central peak reaches 350 meters in height. Nothing much, right?

However, the surroundings of the island are partially blurred on Google Maps, without much explanation. What is speculated is that this is a place of conflict between Russia and the United States.

Tantauco National Park (Chile)

The Tantauco National Park, in Chile, is a large green area, with a lot of native fauna and flora. Precisely because of this, the location cannot be seen on Google Maps.

There's just a big green square in the app. The measure was taken as a form of security to prevent wild animal traffickers from knowing what is there or using the map with reference to their crimes.

Morurua (French Polynesia)

Moruroa Island is part of the French Polynesian archipelago, but is completely censored on Google Maps. There is only a blue blur, as if the area were completely covered by the sea.

The reason is believed to be a series of nuclear tests that France carried out in the area between 1966 and 1996.

Areva La Hague (France)

Since its opening in 1976, AREVA La Hague has been used to treat nuclear fuel from many countries.

This made the site the target of several accusations by Greenpeace – as it was supposed to be dumping massive amounts of radioactive waste into the ocean – and getting it censored on Google Maps.

Stockton-on-Tees (UK)

A house, on Princeport Street, in Stockton-on-Tees, UK, is completely blank on Google Maps.

Unlike the first place on our list, no heinous crimes took place there, nor anything very notable. And the neighbors don't have any answers either. This is a mystery case – or a very secretive owner.

Military base (Greece)

The area of ​​the Greek Military Base located in the country's capital, Athens, is completely blurred on Google Maps. There's not much explanation for this, other than that it's for national security reasons.

Minamitorishima Airport (Japan)

Minami Torishima Airport, in Japan, has a different color when we search for its location on Google Maps. The location is whitish and neon - to hide some details of its true position.

This is because the airport is used as a base for the Japanese Navy. Therefore, the place needs to be confidential.

North Korea

A North Korea it strictly controls what enters and leaves the country outside its borders. Precisely for this reason, nothing of the nation's territory is available to be seen on Google Maps – except for the names of some cities or mountains.

Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.