Google Maps has photographed some amazing, large-scale structures in China's Gobi Desert. The Daily Mail reports that the various line and grid-like structures are located on the borders of Gansu province and Xinjiang in northwestern China, an area that China "uses to build military, space and nuclear equipment."

The strange structures have sparked widespread internet debate, with some theories suggesting that the various grids and lines are being used as practice targets for military satellites.

The Daily Mail says part of the mystery is that it's unclear "what the structures are made of – whether they are painted on or dug into the landscape."

Adding credence to speculation about a military use is the fact that "upon zooming in, planes and burnt-out trucks can be seen on some of the photographs, which hints that they may indeed be targets of some kind."

Click here to look at more pictures of China's strange desert shapes.