Navigation of the Known!
This is a puzzle cache. It is not at the listed coordinates. To obtain the cache coordinates, please solve the following puzzle.
This cache is part of the Project Atoz series. Click here for more information.
The last puzzle to be completed in the Utah Atoz series. By popular demand, another Google Earth puzzle.
Below are 20 images from locations around the world. Most are well Known locations for your Navigational enjoyment - Navigation of the Known!
Each image is within a short distance of a Virtual Cache.
Using what you see in the images, try to identify the Virtual Cache from which the image was taken.
There are likely many tools useful to accomplish this, but I can recommend two: The Geocaching Google Earth Plugin (which may be discontinued, but still works for me) and Street View. The maps and search tools on Geocaching should also work.
Try to match the images below to scenes in Street View to verify you have the right Virtual. Note: The views are from the actual, posted coordinates from the Virtual page. If you use the Plugin, know that the icons are only approximately placed (and subject to jumping around!).
The closest Virtual to the main attraction may not always be the one you need - be sure to match the views!
From the satellite view of a likely image location, drag the Street View Pegman out to see the blue lines indicating Street View locations. Drop the Pegman as close to the Virtual coordinates as possible.
As you identify each Virtual, extract just the digits from its GC code. For example, GCA9B0Z would yield 90.
If a code does not contain any digits, use the alphabetical position of just the first letter after the GC. For example, GCGDQ would yield 7.
This will give you a list of 20 numbers.
Add the numbers from the first 10 sites and subtract 44,393 to get XXXXX.
Add the numbers from the last 10 sites and subtract 52,037 to get YYYYY.
The cache is at:
N 40 XX.XXX
W 111 YY.YYY
Verify your solution here.
The images (click an image to enlarge):
1
2
3
4
5
There appear to be 31 5/5 Virtuals in the world as of this writing.
This photo was taken at one in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres.
No Street View here! Match the photo to a log to verify the cache.
6
7
8
9
South side looking north. A good spot for explorers.
There were no blue Street View lines here, but views are available close to the cache.
10
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11
12
13
14
15
About half a mile from Photo 4.
Blue Street View lines may be absent here as well.
16
17
18
19
One of three Virtuals (as of this writing) in a country with a lion on its flag.
20
The cache should be available in snowy conditions. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Bon Voyage!
Don't forget to make a note of the clue word on the cache log. You will need it to solve Project Atoz!