Tour Google's secret global data centers

A rare look behind the server aisle. Here hundreds of fans funnel hot air from the server racks into a cooling unit to be recirculated. The green lights are the server status leds reflecting from the front of Google

In case anything should happen to Google

Inside Google

Thousands of feet of pipe line the inside of Google

Google

Frozen_Finland_(Hamina).jpg — Google/Connie Zhou

The winter landscape outside of a Google data center in Finland.

These colorful pipes carry water. Three of Google

Hamina is one of three data centers Google maintains in Europe. Previously it was the home of the Stora Enso paper mill.

An overhead view of one of Google

Server floors like these require massive space and efficient power to run the full family of Google products for the world. Here in Hamina, Finland, Google chose to renovate an old paper mill to take advantage of the building's infrastructure as well as its proximity to the Gulf of Finland's cooling waters.

Blue lights like these mean everything is functioning properly on the server floor.

Another view of Google

Each of Google

Google

As part of Google's commitment to keeping users' data safe, they destroy all failed drives, on site.

A sunset over Saint Ghislain, Belgium illuminates Google's water storage tanks and cooling towers.

Google

Google's pipes aren't the only colorful things at their data centers. These cables are organized by their specific hue. On the floor, this can make things less technical: 'Hand me a blue one.'

Plumes of steam rise above Google

Denise Harwood diagnoses an overheated CPU. For more than a decade, Google has built some of the world's most efficient servers.

Mitch Fleming tightens a valve coupling to ensure Google keeps seawater from the Gulf of Finland in the appropriate cooling pipes.

Google keep pipes like these ready with highly-pressurized water in case of a fire. This water, in particular, is cleaned and filtered so if they use it, they don't contaminate the facility.

Associate Facilities Manager Jeff Hajer burns some wire in a fabrication area at Google