The other day I found an amazing moving forest. Let me explain. I’ve been feeling a little quite blah recently. Maybe it’s because summer is almost over and I’m going back to school next week. Maybe it’s because I know I can’t take any big trips (at least for a few months). Either way I’ve been quite lazy, spending my spare time watching The Simpson’s instead of travel blogging (even though I still have a lot of material to blog about). I know this is not a great impression to make as a travel blogger, but I think we all have these moments, whether we’re on the road or not. Anyway, to beat this blah mood I’m in I did one that always cheers me up… plan road trips with Google Maps.
I love planning out trips on Google Maps. You can call me a nerd now, if you haven’t already. Sure I’m not going to drive to San Fransisco now, but you never know what the future will bring. Anyway there I was mapping different trips throughout North America, and mapping different routes on trips I’ve done before. That’s when I discovered something peculiar, that Mark Twain National Forest had relocated from the US to Canada, just northwest of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
I thought I discovered this, but I guess others like the Saskatoon Star Phoenix beat me to it. Funny thing is if you type in Mark Twain National Forrest in search bar of Google Maps the correct location in Missouri is shown. Yet on the map it’s in Saskatchewan. Go ahead try it for yourself. Go up to Canada, zoom in on Saskatchewan (third province from the left), and zoom in by Saskatoon. Quick before the Google gods fix this. I’m sorry to say the Google gods have fixed this 
US National Park has relocation in Canada? The screen cap was taken by me, but all the content inside is from Google Maps.
I’m not sure if this is a technical error, or maybe a joke, but my spidey sense knew something wasn’t right. Mostly because I’ve driven along the highway where they mistakenly put Mark Twain National Forrest. Despite rumors about Saskatchewan being so flat you can see your dog run away for miles and miles Saskatchewan does have trees, even forests.
See there are trees in Saskatchewan. I guess this photo doesn’t do much to stop the flat rumours though. But there are hills in Saskatchewan. Like Cypress Hills – not to be confused with rap group Cypress Hill.
Still I don’t recall ever entering Mark Twain National Forrest, and I think I’d remember that. The other clue came from the fact it seems highly illogical a national forest dedicated to American author Mark Twain would move to a completely different country. It would be like The Anne of Green Gables House moving from Prince Edward Island to Alabama. Or moving Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-Upon-Avon from England to, I don’t know Vietnam. It would be impossible. And if it were possible I still think people would notice something was missing.
For me this is an amusing reminder that while technology can be a great tool it’s far from perfect.
This is hilarious…..I have never planned a trip on Google maps….very interesting Alouise. Oh, I almost spit out my coffee with your Cypress Hill comment….I thought about them as soon as you mentioned Cypress Hills….too funny!
Sorry for making you almost split out your coffee. I just figured I should make sure people knew I wasn’t talking about a rap group, because most people would confuse a place for a group of people. And planning trips on Google Maps is great, you should give it a try.
Virtually traveling is *almost* as good as the real thing and when you can’t do the real thing, it is a great substitute!