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Google Maps Invents UK Town

There is no Argleton, England, despite what you see

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 4, 2009 4:41 PM CST

(Newser) – A Google Maps error has created a phantom town—“Argleton” in Lancashire, England. The service hosts photos of homes and restaurants in the surrounding area, but it’s all in error—the area is in fact just an empty field. Nonetheless Argleton has become a sensation with British tabloids and on the blogosphere, with #Argleton even a popular hashtag on Twitter. The website www.argleton.com claims to be set up by the town's inhabitants to confirm their existence, ABC News reports.

"A colleague of mine spotted the anomaly on Google Maps, and I thought 'I've got to go there,'" says one man who visited. "I started to weave this amazing fantasy about the place, an alternative universe, a Narnia-like world. I was really fascinated by the appearance of a non-existent place that the Internet had the power to make real and give a semi-existence"—but all he found was an empty field.

The map says it's there, even though it's not.

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Google Maps Invents UK Town

There is no Argleton, England, despite what you see

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Security camera confusion leads to hilarious pursuit

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Gizmos proliferate amid concerns on distracted driving

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British pub patron swings crazily at customers

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Google Maps Invents UK Town

There is no Argleton, England, despite what you see

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Google • England • Google Maps

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Defiant Syrians Changing Streetscape —Via Google

Streets renamed in honor of fallen revolutionaries via Map Maker

Google Gets Europe's OK to Buy Motorola

But regulators in EU, United States will monitor for antitrust

British Cop Chases Suspect: Himself

Security camera confusion leads to hilarious pursuit

Automakers Pushing 'Connected' Cars

Gizmos proliferate amid concerns on distracted driving

Video Captures Angry Smoker in Chainsaw Barfight

British pub patron swings crazily at customers

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?