Queen Rania welcomes Google Street View to ancient city of Petra

Monday evening, Queen Rania of Jordan and Google announced the launch of Street View  in more than 30 historical sites throughout Jordan.

"What a great day for Jordan and Jordanians! Thanks to Google Street View, we can now share the rich, proud and varied history of our country with anyone who has an Internet connection. With more than 30 historical sites available to explore virtually, people all over the world now have a window into our beautiful Kingdom in the heart of the Middle East.

With Google Street View, would-be visitors, or those just curious to learn more about our ancient lands, can explore Jordan’s unique historical heritage online. That’s one of the reasons I love this technology. Not only does it connect millions of people from all corners of the world, it provides a lens on the past. And when we understand more about each other’s stories and cultures and histories, we realize that we are more alike than we are different. That’s why we must preserve these treasures for future generations. They’re a doorway to our shared narrative."

The launch marks the third and largest Street View project that Google has launched in the Arab world, following the Pyramids of Giza and Burj Khalifa .

When it comes to ancient cities, nothing is more exotic than the Rose Red city of Petra, one of the 7 wonders of the world. That’s where Google’s Trekker takes us with its latest Street View imagery.

Take a virtual hike around Petra, with 30 other Jordanian Street View tours available here, and check out Google's official blog post  by Queen Rania.