From a mysterious ‘doorway’ in the Antarctic to hidden symbols in the Gobi Desert, Google Maps has revealed some weird and wonderful secrets over the years.
But this latest discovery might be one of the strangest yet.
Keen-eyed internet sleuths have spotted what seems to be a ‘flying saucer’ buried in the Sahara Desert.
According to some baffled viewers, the unusual structure could be a crashed UFO that has been buried for thousands of years.
The mysterious object is located near the tiny town of Bordj Omar Driss, Algeria, deep within the Sahara Desert.
UFO hunter Scott Waring, who made the strange discovery, told MailOnline: ‘It’s likely the UFO has been there for tens of thousands of years, predating recorded human history.
‘I also want to note, that the CIA and other organizations will have people try to label any discoveries of UFOs on Google Earth Map as something else in order to manipulate and deceive the public from knowing the truth.’
Unfortunately for these alien hunters, experts say there is a much simpler explanation.
A mysterious ‘flying saucer’ has been spotted in the Sahara Desert, sparking suggestions that it might be a crashed alien craft
The site is located near the tiny town of Bordj Omar Driss, Algeria, and was spotted on Google Maps
The odd structure was spotted on Google Maps at the coordinates 28°8’45.15’N 6°48’20.85’E.
In a video sharing his findings, Mr Waring claims that the ‘UFO’ is buried 34.4 feet (10.5m) according to Google Earth Pro’s elevation measuring tools.
Mr Waring told MailOnline that, at the Sahara’s sediment accumulation rate of 0.5 mm per year, the ‘UFO’ must have landed 21,000 years ago to be buried so deeply.
He also points to the fact that the structure isn’t present in early satellite images of the site, suggesting that it must have been ‘excavated’ recently.
On social media, Mr Waring’s surprising comments have found widespread support, as commenters rushed to share their excitement.
One enthusiastic commenter wrote: ‘I would love to know the whole story but this definitely looks like a crash site or something considering it popped up on the map out of nowhere.’
‘I wonder whether some bodies have been found… This is so weird,’ added another.
While one conspiratorially minded commenter wrote: ‘Take screen shots everyone, cause you know Google is going to make this disappear.’
An alternative satellite view of the structure from an earlier period shows that more development has taken place around it recently
UFO enthusiasts have speculated that the structure could be a crashed alien spaceship which has been buried in the desert for thousands of years (stock image)
Adding fuel to the flames of speculation, Mr Waring adds: ‘The UFO seems to have been torn open around the lower center dome. Possibly to enter the craft in order to loot it before government officials get hold of it.’
However, the real explanation for this strange site is much more mundane.
Nick Pope, former UFO investigator for the Ministry of Defence, told MailOnline: ‘With the recent expansion in the capabilities of AI, it’s increasingly difficult to ensure that images haven’t been faked, or doctored.
‘But even assuming the picture is genuine and not altered in any way, it’s impossible to tell much from the image alone.
‘There’s no context, and applying the principle of Occam’s Razor – that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one – this is more likely to be a circular building or structure of some sort than a crashed alien spacecraft.’
And, thanks to the work of some online investigators, we actually know exactly what kind of building this is.
The ‘mysterious’ structure is actually just the foundation for an onshore wind turbine.
Before the tower is added, these huge reinforced concrete structures are dug deep into the ground which would explain why the structure appears to be below the surface.
However, this structure is likely to be nothing more than the foundation for an onshore wind turbine (pictured) which have a classic ‘flying saucer’ shape
Seen side by side, aerial photographs of a confirmed wind turbine foundation (left) and the supposed UFO (right) show how similar the two are
A little to the southwest of the ‘UFO’, you can see another wind turbine under construction which has more of the tower added
With a classic ‘flying saucer’ shape of a round body and central dome, it is easy to see how someone might mistake these structures for a UFO.
But looking at aerial photographs of known wind turbines you can see that this Saharan structure is almost certainly the base of another wind turbine.
In other satellite images of the location, this similarity is even clearer.
Likewise, as UFO analyst and sceptic Mick West points out, there is another foundation just to the southwest where the tower of the wind turbine has already started construction.
Algeria, where these were found, is currently undergoing a major investment in wind power, with the government aiming to produce 27 per cent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2035.
The country also has some of the world’s greatest potential for wind power with consistent wind speeds of up to eight metres per second in many regions.
This makes it a lot more likely that there would be a wind turbine under construction than a secret, ancient UFO hidden beneath the desert.
Unfortunately, UFO investigators say wild claims like these actually interfere with their search for extraterrestrial life.
UFO researcher Philip Mantle, told MailOnline: ‘The vast majority of UFO sighting reports including photos and video end up having a rational explanation.
‘Then there is an amount that just doesn’t have enough info to reach a conclusion.
‘This leaves only a very small minority that may be left for serious examination.
‘Photos like this are not to be taken seriously and rank alongside stories that Elvis is still alive and he lives with Lord Lucan.’
