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Take A Rare Peek Inside The Massive Data Centers That Power Google

Take A Rare Peek Inside The Massive Data Centers That Power Google

Our tour starts outside one of Google's data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. There is a family of deer outside to greet us.

Take A Rare Peek Inside The Massive Data Centers That Power Google

Inside the Council Bluffs, Iowa data center there is over 115,000 square feet of space. These servers allow services like YouTube and search to work efficiently.

Inside the Council Bluffs, Iowa data center there is over 115,000 square feet of space. These servers allow services like YouTube and search to work efficiently.

This place is actually enormous!

This place is actually enormous!

In the campus network room, routers and switches allow data centers to talk to each other. The network connecting these sites can run at speeds that are more than 200,000 times faster than a typical home Internet connection.

In the campus network room, routers and switches allow data centers to talk to each other. The network connecting these sites can run at speeds that are more than 200,000 times faster than a typical home Internet connection.

Moving over to the Oregon data center, we see that this space is equally impressive.

Moving over to the Oregon data center, we see that this space is equally impressive.

Here is a view inside the Douglas County, Georgia data center. The colorful pipes send and receive water for cooling the facility. Bikes are the preferred method of transportation inside the massive center.

Here is a view inside the Douglas County, Georgia data center. The colorful pipes send and receive water for cooling the facility. Bikes are the preferred method of transportation inside the massive center.

Google keeps pipes like these ready with highly-pressurized water, in case of a fire. The water is cleaned and filtered, so it won't contaminate the facility in the off chance they need to use it.

Google keeps pipes like these ready with highly-pressurized water, in case of a fire. The water is cleaned and filtered, so it won

The blue LEDs on this row of servers let employees know that everything is running smoothly. Google has purchased 1000 megawatts of renewable energy to power these data centers now and into the future.

The blue LEDs on this row of servers let employees know that everything is running smoothly. Google has purchased 1000 megawatts of renewable energy to power these data centers now and into the future.

Failed drives are immediately destroyed on site. Google says this is part of its commitment to keeping users' data safe.

Failed drives are immediately destroyed on site. Google says this is part of its commitment to keeping users

This is where all data is backed up. A robotic arm helps in loading and unloading tapes when employees need to access them. Each tape has a barcode so that the robotic arm can easily locate them.

This is where all data is backed up. A robotic arm helps in loading and unloading tapes when employees need to access them. Each tape has a barcode so that the robotic arm can easily locate them.

This is rare look behind the server aisle. Hundreds of fans can be seen taking hot air up and away from the racks, cooling it, and recycling the air back through.

This is rare look behind the server aisle. Hundreds of fans can be seen taking hot air up and away from the racks, cooling it, and recycling the air back through.

This beautiful view was taken outside of Google's data center in Finland which sits on the shores of a frozen gulf. This building was once used to house a paper mill.

This beautiful view was taken outside of Google

Here is another view inside Google's facility in Finland. Server floors like these require massive space and efficient power to run all of Google's products. Google's data centers use 50% less energy than an average data center.

Here is another view inside Google

Running the machines to compute this much data can create some serious heat. That's where the coolant systems come in. Seawater from the Gulf of Finland entirely cools the data center there.

Running the machines to compute this much data can create some serious heat. That

Inside the former paper mill is a gorgeous conference room. This is just outside of a sauna where employees can go to relax whenever they like.

Inside the former paper mill is a gorgeous conference room. This is just outside of a sauna where employees can go to relax whenever they like.

Here is a group photo of the Hamina team enjoying ice fishing right outside of the office. Google says that they chose Hamina because the town "has the right combination of energy infrastructure, developable land and available workforce for the data center."

Here is a group photo of the Hamina team enjoying ice fishing right outside of the office. Google says that they chose Hamina because the town "has the right combination of energy infrastructure, developable land and available workforce for the data center."

Now take a look at the kind of information Google is putting out

Now take a look at the kind of information Google is putting out

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