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Eartha

Eartha is the world's largest revolving globe, with a diameter of 12.52 meters (41 feet) and a weight of 2,540 kilograms (5,600 pounds), located in a three-story glass atrium at 2 Drive in , . Constructed to a precise scale of 1:1,000,000, it represents as viewed from , incorporating 792 panels of , shaded relief, and road maps on an aluminum structure supported by a motorized arm. Powered by two electric motors and controlled by a computer, Eartha rotates on its axis—tilted at 23.5 degrees to mirror Earth's inclination—once every 18 minutes while also revolving to simulate orbital motion. Designed and built by David DeLorme, founder of the mapping corporation, Eartha took two years to complete in 1998, involving approximately 200 staff members, and was officially recognized by in 1999 as the largest revolving globe. Originally a centerpiece at DeLorme's headquarters to showcase the company's geospatial and global expertise, it became a popular public attraction, drawing visitors to observe its intricate details up close across three levels. Following DeLorme's acquisition by in 2016, Eartha remains on display at the site—now part of Garmin's facilities—and underwent a refurbishment around its 25th anniversary in 2023, enhancing its vivid colors and panel clarity, with repaneling typically required every decade due to wear. Open to the public during weekday business hours adjacent to the Magno Terra Cafe, Eartha continues to symbolize human ingenuity in and serves as an educational landmark highlighting Earth's and the integration of satellite data in modern .

Description

Physical characteristics

Eartha was originally designed to be 42 feet (12.8 m) in diameter but measured 41 feet 1.5 inches (12.53 meters) and weighs 5,600 pounds (2,540 kilograms). This immense size makes it visible from multiple floors within its atrium enclosure, providing viewers with a comprehensive perspective of the globe's surface details. The globe is constructed at a precise scale of 1:1,000,000, meaning 1 inch on Eartha represents approximately 16 miles on the actual Earth, while 1 millimeter corresponds to 1 kilometer. This scale allows for accurate proportional representation of global features, such as rendering California at about 3.5 feet in height. Eartha's exterior consists of 792 plastic panels that depict a composite of satellite imagery, shaded relief, bathymetry, and major global road networks. These panels are affixed to an internal Omni-Span truss structure made from over 6,000 pieces of lightweight aluminum tubing, forming a robust yet efficient framework that supports the globe's form without excessive weight. The surface mapping on these panels was generated from a total volume of 140 gigabytes, incorporating detailed geographic to achieve high-fidelity representation of Earth's and features. This substantial dataset underscores the technological effort required to visualize global at such a large scale.

Mechanism and operation

Eartha's mechanism employs a custom-designed mounting system that enables dual motions: rotation on a tilted and revolution around a central point simulating . The globe is positioned at a 23.5-degree angle to replicate Earth's , with the oriented diagonally relative to the floor. This arm, mechanized for smooth operation, supports the structure while allowing the globe to spin on its and concurrently, mimicking the planet's daily and orbital dynamics. The dual motions are powered by two electric motors controlled by a computer system, ensuring synchronized and . In standard operation, one complete —representing a full day on —takes 18 minutes, during which the globe rotates once on its while revolving around the central point. For demonstrations, the motors can accelerate the to as little as 1 minute, providing a faster visualization of the motions without compromising the mechanism's integrity. An illumination system enhances visibility of the globe's surface features during operation, particularly at night when internal lighting highlights the continents, oceans, and , making it visible through the three-story atrium. This setup allows observers to appreciate the detailed even in low-light conditions, with the lit structure visible through the atrium's windows.

History

Development and construction

The development of Eartha was initiated in 1996 by DeLorme CEO David DeLorme as a showcase for the company's mapping technology, aiming to create a monumental three-dimensional representation of at a scale of 1:1,000,000. Key contributors to the design and construction included surveyor and Vincent J.P. Leblanc, who provided expertise in structural and geospatial aspects, and map technician Jeff Clark, who oversaw the fabrication of the globe's 792 surface panels. Over a two-year period, a team of employees assembled the structure using lightweight aluminum trusses and a motorized system to enable and , culminating in its completion and unveiling on July 23, 1998, when Maine's governor affixed the final panel. Throughout the assembly process, the integrated DeLorme's software for and , drawing on nearly 140 gigabytes of , shaded relief, ocean-depth soundings, and road networks to generate the detailed, removable map sections that form the globe's surface.

Recognition and records

In 1999, Eartha was certified by as the world's largest revolving globe, measuring 12.52 meters (41 feet 1 inch) in diameter and weighing 2,540 kilograms (5,600 pounds). This certification came after surveyors confirmed its dimensions, surpassing the previous record holder, the 10-meter (33-foot) Globe of Peace (Mappamondo della Pace) in Apecchio, Italy. Unveiled in late 1998, Eartha claimed the title on January 10, 1999, establishing it as a landmark in cartographic engineering. As of 2025, Eartha continues to hold the distinction for the largest rotating and revolving globe, with no larger functional model verified since its certification. Its precise measurements—diameter of 12.52 meters and weight of 2,540 kilograms—remain key to its record status, highlighting the scale achieved by the Mapping Company. This enduring recognition underscores Eartha's role as a singular achievement in global representation.

Ownership and maintenance

Eartha was constructed and initially owned by the mapping corporation, which maintained it at their headquarters in , from its debut in 1998 until the company's acquisition. On March 3, 2016, Ltd. completed its acquisition of substantially all assets of DeLorme, including Eartha and the Yarmouth facility, integrating the globe into 's operations without relocating it from its original site. Under Garmin's ownership, Eartha's maintenance has followed a routine focused on preserving its structural integrity and visual accuracy, with periodic re-paneling to address wear on the 792 surface panels composed of and maps. In 2023, a comprehensive re-paneling project was undertaken to replace tattered sections, restoring vivid colors and exposing the underlying truss structure for during the process.

Location and public access

Site and facilities

Eartha is housed within a three-story atrium at 2 DeLorme Drive in , which was originally the headquarters of before its acquisition by in 2016. The atrium serves as the primary enclosure for the globe, providing a weatherproof environment that allows for continuous operation and public viewing. The facility features multiple viewing platforms designed to offer diverse perspectives of the 41-foot-diameter globe. Visitors can access two balconies on upper levels, which elevate observers to better view the and higher latitudes. At ground level, a lower pit area surrounds the base of the globe, where mounting and support equipment is visible but chained off to restrict public access and ensure safety. The atrium's large windows enable visibility of Eartha from , the adjacent highway, making it a even for passersby. Nighttime illumination highlights the globe's rotation from outside, enhancing its appeal after dark. Adjacent to the atrium, the Magno Terra Cafe provides visitor amenities, including seating and refreshments, in a space formerly occupied by DeLorme's retail store.

Visiting information

Eartha is open to the public during weekday business hours, typically from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, though visitors should confirm current schedules as they are subject to Garmin's operations. Admission is free, with no reservations required, allowing for self-guided viewing in the atrium. The globe completes a full and cycle every 18 minutes, making it ideal to time visits to observe the complete motion from various vantage points. Educational signage and information panels in the atrium provide details on Eartha's features, construction, and geographical representation. For , the multi-level viewing balconies primarily require , but ground-level options ensure observation is possible without ascending.

Significance

Technological achievement

Eartha marked a significant milestone in geospatial by pioneering the integration of digital into a large-scale physical model. The globe's surface consists of 792 laser-printed panels that composite for surface features, topographic shaded relief to depict elevation and landforms, and including roadways, cities, and boundaries. This synthesis drew from 140 gigabytes of digital datasets, representing an unprecedented volume at the time and enabling a seamless, 1:1,000,000 visualization of as viewed from . The project demonstrated DeLorme's proprietary mapping software capabilities, evolved from tools like Street Atlas USA, in processing and rendering complex geospatial data for high-fidelity output. This software facilitated the automated generation of the globe's intricate details, showcasing scalable techniques for data layering and that later informed advancements in consumer GIS applications, such as enhanced topographic basemaps and interactive . Key engineering innovations addressed the challenges of structural in a dynamic, cantilevered design. The 41-foot-diameter , weighing 5,600 pounds, relies on an aluminum —drawing inspiration from principles—to support continuous motion while minimizing distortion and ensuring long-term durability. This approach overcame issues like panel adhesion and load distribution during assembly, completed over two years by teams, and set precedents for large-scale physical models in geospatial display technology.

Cultural and educational impact

Eartha serves as a prominent educational tool, allowing visitors to visualize global geography on a massive scale. Its three-dimensional design, constructed at a where one inch represents approximately miles, demonstrates key planetary features such as mountains, landforms, ocean depths via colored , and shaded relief, all derived from and terrestrial data. The globe's 23.5-degree accurately replicates and revolution, providing an intuitive way to understand seasonal changes, environmental patterns, and interconnected , including road networks and urban areas. It has become a favored site for school trips, fostering hands-on learning about and global connectivity. As a visible from , Eartha draws significant tourist interest, enhanced by its recognition in as the largest revolving globe since 1999. Featured in travel guides and media outlets, it offers free public access through a three-story glass atrium at the former headquarters (now ), where visitors can observe its slow, mesmerizing movements indoors or from outside after dark. High-profile visits, such as by , have amplified its appeal, turning it into a must-see landmark that combines wonder with accessibility. Symbolically, represents a human-scale model of as viewed from , inspiring awe and curiosity about and exploration. Its compilation from 140 gigabytes of mapping data underscores advancements in , encouraging interest in geospatial technologies and the broader quest to map and understand our world. By evoking emotional connections—such as a World War II veteran's reflection on global history—it highlights the globe's role in bridging personal stories with universal scale. Since its unveiling in , Eartha has contributed to Yarmouth's local by boosting and supporting nearby businesses, including a dedicated café that caters to visitors. This influx of sightseers has helped sustain the area's appeal as a destination, integrating the attraction into Maine's broader travel ecosystem.

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