Friday Funny: Sheep View Goes Where Google Street View Can't

Some local residents of the Faroe Islands created Sheep View 360 to document the 18 rocky islands that make up their home—and now Google is lending a hand.

1 minute read

September 2, 2016, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Faroe Islands

The village of Gasadalur village and its waterfall, Vagar. | Nick Fox / Shutterstock

"Those zany madcaps over at Google have been having WAY too much fun lately," according to an article by Patrick May. "The kind you have when you get to strap Google’s high-tech street-view cameras to some of the 70,000 sheep wandering around the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago that’s part of the Kingdom of Denmark."

This whole story began with Sheep View 360. According to an article from July, a local shepherd built custom harnesses to fit five sheep living on the Faroe Islands with a 36-degree camera. The effort was a preemptive effort to map the islands. Google Street View hadn't made brought its mapping project to the Faroe Islands yet, given their remote location and difficult conditions.

But after hearing about Sheep View 360, Google decided to loan the team cameras through the Street View camera loan program, which also happens to be available in places other than the Faroe Islands.

Meanwhile, there's also this video to illustrate more about how the project and partnership all came together.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 in The San Jose Mercury News

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

A coal power plant in Iowa billows smoke into the air.

Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand

For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.

September 17, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A rendering of the planned bridge over a large river. The bridge has two main support beams that form diamond shaped arches over the bridge.

Alabama scores up to $2.5 billion federal loan for largest infrastructure project in state’s history

The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project aims to ease congestion at Alabama’s worst bottleneck.

4 seconds ago - NBC 15

Public land in Idaho. Most of the photo is a green field, with mountains and a forest in the distance.

Trump is considering data centers on 6 states' public land — some state officials say they had no idea

If the administration approves the proposed projects, data center and data center-related developments will cover 17,600 acres of public land.

1 hour ago - The Washington Sun

Two construction workers on a wind turbine, with two more in the background against a pink sky.

Despite court ruling, Trump is keeping nearly all wind projects in the US on hold

At least 110 wind energy projects have not heard from the government since a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's freeze on wind turbine clearances was likely illegal.

2 hours ago - Heatmap