NOAA's old coastal maps drew the world in 30-meter squares. The new ones use 1-meter squares. That one change makes the map 900 times more detailed.
NOAA released new land-cover maps that jump from 30-meter resolution to 1-meter — 900 times more detailed than the maps made 10 years ago.
Basis: NOAA, “The coast is clear-er: NOAA unveils new land cover maps 900 times greater in detail” (June 2, 2026)
Why 900 and not 30? Because a map square has two sides. Shrinking 30 meters to 1 meter on each side means 30 × 30 = 900 little squares fit where one used to be.
Basis: Arithmetic on the resolutions stated in the NOAA release (30 m → 1 m)
The first areas mapped this way are coastal Alabama, Mississippi, northeastern Ohio, Rhode Island, and Puget Sound in Washington.
Basis: Same NOAA release (list of areas)
At 30 meters, a tidal creek in a salt marsh could vanish between two squares. At 1 meter it shows up — which is why NOAA lists uses like flood mitigation, water quality and wetland restoration.
Basis: Same NOAA release (example of a Maine salt marsh; listed uses of the data)
📊 Sources for the rankings mentioned in this note (links to the original data and retrieval dates) are on each quiz page below.