Google Maps Shuts Down Feature That Allowed Users To Virtually Climb Uluru

It's nearly been a year since moves were made to stop people from climbing to the summit of Uluru.

It was the end of a massive campaign to preserve the sacredness of the rock at the heart of Australia and the decision to stop people walking up there every day certainly divided the country.

However, despite the chains that helped thousands to the top being removed, viewers have still managed to find a way to climb Uluru: virtually.

Google Maps is a handy tool that most of us use every day. Interestingly, its Street View app featured photos of people in various states of climbing to the summit, allowing anyone from around the world to feel like they had done the walk.

Google Maps

Parks Australia launched a new campaign to get these images removed from Google Maps to ensure the traditional owners of the land wouldn't be offended.

A statement from Parks Australia said: "Parks Australia alerted Google Australia to the user-generated images from the Uluru summit that have been posted on their mapping platform.

"We have requested that the content be removed in accordance with the wishes of Anangu, Uluru's traditional owners, and the national park's Film and Photography Guidelines."

Google has since deleted all the images from the top as well as during parts of the way up.

Google Maps

In a statement to 9 News, Google said: "We understand Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is deeply sacred to the Anangu people. As soon as Parks Australia raised their concerns about this user contribution, we removed the imagery."

The summit walk was officially closed in late October and the final few days of it being open saw thousands of people line up for one last chance.

Some people resented the idea of the walk being shut and said it would devastate the local economy because people wouldn't want to travel to Alice Springs if they couldn't go to the top of Uluru.

Campaigners for the walk to close argued that Uluru is a sacred part of the traditional owners of the land and they believe that it's offensive and disheartening to see people walk all over it like an amusement attraction.

Topics: News, Technology, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie