BEIRUT, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Google announced Thursday that it has added a series of new panoramic photos of Lebanon's historical sites to its maps through its Street View application to be seen by over a billion users all over the world, local media reported.

"We are looking forward to adding more photos of Lebanon to show the world the historical and cultural richness of this country," Selim Edde, head of Public Policy at Google in the Middle East and North Africa was quoted by the National News Agency as saying.

His remarks came during his meeting with Prime Minister Designate Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail to give him an overview of this new service.

Edde told Hariri that researchers and students all over the world can have access to Lebanon's most important touristic sites which will encourage them to come in person to visit these places.

"People all over the world today can pay virtual visits to Jeitta Grotto, Temple of Jupiter in Baalbeck and other landmarks such as the American University of Beirut which is over 100 years old," he said.

Lebanon is the latest addition to a series of Street View Special Collects in MENA, such as Petra in Jordan, the Amphitheatre of El Jem in Tunisia, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Sheikh Zayed Grand.

Google Maps Street View began in 2007 and today covers thousands of cities.