It just uses satellite photos that the government has released so typically they will be older ones. You'll notice places "of interest" are more recent and better quality". If there are many trees around, the satellite can't see thru those of course but it's still way cool to check them out. Look at the oceans too - you can see ships and schools of fish if you look for them!
Another neat feature of Google Earth - you can "tack" your vacantion pictures on the map with photo tags. We have a picture of my husband and I on top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. So when you zoom in on Table Mountain, there's a link you click and there we are! I think that's just on our computer though...you can't see everyones photo tags.
It's a fun thing to play with!
