Yahoo has largely opted out of the mapping arms race between Microsoft and Google that has seen both invest millions in their mapping platforms. While it was the early pioneer of dynamic mapping and use of maps as a local search tool, the company decided to focus on more “practical” tools and functionality rather than features such as street-level photography or 3D modeling. However, it has continued to do interesting things with maps in a more incremental fashion. But today the Yahoo Local & Maps Blog has details on a big new infusion of aerial and satellite imagery for the US market.

Yahoo characterizes it as the “the single biggest imagery update on maps.yahoo.com since the program inception.” Images are in higher resolution and allow for “two extra zoom levels.” Much of the new photography is comparable to the “Birds Eye” aerial images earlier introduced by Microsoft.

Here’s an example shot — Washington Monument, Washington, DC:

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Yahoo: Maps & Local

About The Author: Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog Screenwerk, about SoLoMo issues and connecting the dots between online and offline. He also posts at Internet2Go, which is focused on the mobile Internet. Follow him @gsterling. See more articles by Greg Sterling

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