Photos: Explore Mount Everest on Google Maps Street View

Mount Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus and Everest are all explorable on Google Maps' "street view" tool, thanks to a neat update.

The company announced this week that it had added 360-degree views of several popular mountain passes and peaks. A group of Google employees took the photos with a lightweight tripod and fish-eye lens over a series of hikes in 2011.

While the scenery is beautiful, the most interesting shots might be the ones that show signs of activity. Some provide a glimpse into how hikers, researchers and guides live in the remote passes.

You can read more about the project on Google's official blog, or check out some of the best shots in the Google Street View gallery.

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