Google Earth Map Overlays

Here is a Google Earth KML network link that displays a big variety of tile based online maps (road maps, terrain and contour maps, alternative satellite image sets, etc) in the area you are currently viewing.

This allows you to use your favourite map in 3D together with other Google Earth layers to plan a trip, perform geospatial analyses, or simply have better map sources where the data provided by Google is not as good:

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Currently, 34 different map sources are supported. Most of these maps are based on OpenStreetMap, but there also layers for Google Maps, Bing Maps and an extensive list of regional map providers. You can switch between maps by clicking on them in the side bar:

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Whenever you change the view in Google Earth, the image overlays are automatically updated. Zoom levels for map tiles are calculated independently for different regions in the Google Earth screen, based on distance to the virtual camera and on latitude. Consequently, maps are updated very quickly and the number of map tiles loaded per update is more or less constant, even if the view in Google Earth is tilted.

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Some more questions about how it works are covered in the FAQ.

Download

To get started, simply download the file map-overlays-for-google-earth-combined.kmz (please log in first, see here why) and open it in Google Earth. It contains all map sources that this application provides (version 13).

Alternatively, separate KML network links for groups of maps or even individual map sources can be found here:

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap Mapnik	Thunderforest Outdoors	Thunderforest Landscape	Thunderforest Transport
OpenStreetMap Cycle Map	OpenStreetMap Public Transport	OpenStreetMap GPS Traces	OpenStreetMap Ski Map

Esri Maps

Esri Maps World Street Map	Esri Maps World Topo Map	Esri Maps USA Topo Maps	Esri Maps NatGeo World Map
Esri Maps World Physical Map	Esri Maps World Terrain Base	Esri Maps World Shaded Relief	Esri Maps World Imagery

Google Maps

Google Maps Road

Google Maps Terrain

Google Maps Korea

Bing Maps

Bing Maps Road

Bing Maps Aerial

Bing Maps Hybrid

Bing Maps China

European Maps

European Maps OpenTopoMap	Outdooractive Maps Germany	Outdooractive Maps South Tyrol	1881.no Maps (Norway) 1881.no Topo
1881.no Maps (Norway) 1881.no Aerial	European Maps 2GIS (Russia)	European Maps Freemap Hiking (Slovakia)