Terrain View in Google Earth?

November 28, 2008 10:03 PM

Easy question: How do I get "Terrain" view in Google Earth the way it looks in Google Maps (i.e. a nice topographic view)?

I see the "Terrain" button down there in Layers, but on my Mac (PPC) when I click that on or off it doesn't seem to do much, as if the actual satellite imagery are covering the underlying grid.

posted by wavejumper to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Best answer: In Google Earth the terrain checkbox controls whether it uses height information. With it unchecked, it treats the surface as if it was flat. With it checked, it 3D renders the bumpiness.

I think the answer to your question is "you can't".
posted by Class Goat at 11:02 PM on November 28, 2008

Response by poster: :-(
posted by wavejumper at 11:11 PM on November 28, 2008

Best answer: I think that there are several ways to add a KMZ layer of US topo maps in Google Earth. Here's one. Or search "topographic maps for google earth."
posted by Dave 9 at 7:50 AM on November 29, 2008