Track Santa in Google Earth

For all you tech enthusiasts, here's something fun to share with the kids this Christmas

Here's something to share with your kids who are anxiously awaiting for Santa to deliver their presents...the NORAD Santa tracker, powered by Google.

In case you don't know the history of NORAD, Google tells the tale on its blog,

"...dates back to 1955, when a Sears and Roebuck magazine ad in Colorado Springs accidentally directed readers to call NORAD instead of the "Talk-to-Santa" hotline they were advertising. Embracing the holiday spirit, the folks at NORAD provided callers with Santa's location according to their radar and have tracked his journey ever since."

Today, the NORAD Tracks Santa site keeps the tradition alive with several features to track Santa in real-time.  Some of those include videos, maps with Santa's route, and a Kids' Countdown.  But the most interesting of all the features is the Google Earth plug-in which actually lets users view Santa within the 3D environment...the kids will love it.

The site also integrates social media features letting viewers follow Santa's path on Twitter and Facebook.

Google said, "We thought hard about the different ways we could improve the Santa tracker and after a year of planning, we think this year's will be the best one yet."

The epic journey of Santa began at 2am ET today and will be going until Christmas, at the moment I'm writing this article Santa is on his way to Armenia.  And I've yet to see an advertisement on the site which makes me more inclined to even write about this, so grab the kids and enhance their holiday experience!