What's up with Google Maps?

While looking through some old photos I've taken during a hikes around Mt. Mitchell, I was curious about some of the other peaks in the area. I went to check out Google Maps to see if I could figure out which direction I had taken a few of the shots. To my surprise, Google Maps is totally screwed up when it comes to topology in that area. I've tried to force myself to see the image correctly, sort of how you can force yourself to see either the old woman or the young lady in this classic illusion photo. It just doesn't work. The light/shadow effect added to these images are all wrong.

For example, look at this area north of Black Mountain:



Notice how the map shows the Blue Ridge Parkway in a valley? This is obviously wrong. The parkway runs along and around the tops of the mountains. The map also shows the the North Fork Reservoir (the dark area near the center) on a mountain top. I guess the water from the surrounding streams in the watershed has to flow up hill. Google depicts the elevations reversed. I'm not sure if this is an issue with Google, the provider of their data or my eyes.