On World Earth Day 2024, Google launched a special Doodle showcasing stunning aerial views of natural landscapes worldwide. This Doodle aims to highlight climate change and raise awareness about the importance of protecting our environment.
Released on April 22, the Doodle features captivating images of Earth's ecosystems. Google's initiative highlights the global commitment to preserving our planet. The centrepiece of this year's Earth Day celebration is a one-minute video showcasing the process of selecting nature-themed images for each letter in Google's logo. These images were carefully chosen from various parts of the world, showcasing efforts to conserve habitats and biodiversity.
What Does Google's Doodle For Earth Day 2024 Show?
The Google Doodle's first "G" stands for the Turks and Caicos Islands, known for their important ecology and conservation work, such as protecting reefs and restoring species, like the Turks and Caicos Islands rock iguana.
Scorpion Reef National Park in Mexico, also known as Arrecife de Alacranes, is the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The first "O" gets us there. This marine refuge is very important for keeping coral reefs and many bird and turtle species in danger of going extinct.
The second "O" shows off Vatnajokull National Park in Iceland, which was created in 2008 to protect the area around Europe's biggest glacier. The park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for the unique mix of volcanic activity and glacial settings that support a wide range of plants.
Google is highlighting Jaú National Park in Brazil for the second "G." It is one of the biggest forest reserves in South America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is in the Amazon jungle and is home to many animals, such as the margay, the jaguar, the giant otter, and the Amazonian manatee.
The Great Green Wall effort in Nigeria is an example of the letter "L." It is a big project started by the African Union in 2007 that aims to stop Africa from becoming a desert. This project not only improves economic stability, food security, and climate resilience for local people through reforestation, but it also helps biodiversity.
Lastly, the letter "E" stands for the Pilbara Islands Nature Reserves in Australia. This area is connected to 20 nature parks that protect many threatened and endangered species, such as different kinds of marine turtles and seabirds.
Google said that the Doodle's images came from several reputable organizations, such as Airbus, CNES/Airbus, Copernicus, Maxar Technology, and USGS/NASA Landsat. This shows how everyone worked together to spread the message of Earth Day.
Earth Day: When Did It Begin?
Earth Day was first observed on April 22, 1970, and has since become a worldwide event, involving over 1 billion people from 193 countries every year. The theme for this year is "Planet vs. Plastics," aiming to tackle plastic pollution and safeguard the environment and its diverse inhabitants.