Google Maps now covers 98% of the world’s population

Google sees everything. Well, almost everything.

On Friday, the company revealed in a blog post that Google Earth now covers more than 98 percent of the world, and has captured 10 million miles of Street View imagery.

To put those numbers in perspective, Google shared that the distance of 10 million miles would wrap around the globe more than 400 times, and that Google Earth lets users browse more than 36 million square miles of satellite imagery, aka A LOT.

“While these stunning photos show us parts of the world we may never get a chance to visit, they also help Google Maps accurately model a world that is changing each day,” the post reads.

Google also shared more information about how exactly all these images are captured, and made sure to remind everyone that it’s “no small task.” In fact, Google’s image-gathering process can take up to several weeks.

Many know that the company uses Street View cars, each of which carries nine high-definition cameras that are “athermal, meaning that they’re designed to handle extreme temperatures without changing focus.”

But in addition to the high-tech cars, Google also uses Street View trekkers, or backpacks that collect photos and videos from harder to access places. When cars can’t be used to capture certain images, trekkers are put on boats, sheep, camels, scout troops, and more to get the job done.

“In 2019 alone, Street View images from the Google Maps community have helped us assign addresses to nearly seven million buildings in previously under-mapped places like Armenia, Bermuda, Lebanon, Myanmar, Tonga, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe,” the post says.

Per CNET, the blog post marks the first time that Google has released this sort of in-depth information and numbers about Maps, a feature that more than one billion people use monthly.

The blog post also shares several stunning photographs, along with more insight on image processing and next steps for those who are interested.