Live Maps

[wpgmza id="1"]

I sprang for a WordPress plugin that lets me place live maps or satellite imagery in the website. There are three choices:

  • OpenMaps - excellent free street maps
  • GoogleMaps - street maps from Google that may not be free
  • GoogleEarth - satellite imagery from Google that may not be free

I say may not be free because Google's terms are complicated and depend on the amount of traffic you get. I'm guessing it will be free, but I can't be sure yet. So far Google has not cost me anything.

The plugin is: WP Google Maps - wpgmaps.com

I looked at a bunch of plugins, and this turned out to be the best. In fact, it was one of the few that actually worked, and the only one that offered an alternative to Google. You can make one map with the free version, unlimited maps with the paid version, which starts at $40 for 3 websites. Ironically, this was the first mapping solution I tried, and the rest was a waste of time.

The first live map I made on this site was Shark River, above.


Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia midas

Size: to 48" ( shell ) and 450 lbs.

Habitat: oceanic

Notes: Greatly reduced in numbers due to hunting. The Green is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, and also the only vegetarian, feeding on algae and "Turtle Grass." Green Sea Turtles are not particularly green on the outside but have green fat, for which they were named in the days when sailors still caught and ate them. Green Sea Turtles have four large scales or "scutes" along each side of the shell; Loggerheads have five.