[Matplotlib-users] Background basemaps in Basemap

[klo uo <kl...@gm...>]

I wanted to overlay some plot over map, and thought to use one of
provided background maps that come with Basemap
Result isn't that great as expected: loading bluemarble map took 1GB
memory, and zooming i.e. Europe region on 1920x1080 screen is too
blurred w/o details. As a consequence, using custom basemap with even
greater resolution is out of consideration

OTOH whatever I do in Google Earth, memory never exceeds 200MB and
it's even lower with ArcGIS Explorer with any basemap on it. Maybe
it's because these packages use advanced tilling features maybe it's
else, but isn't there something that can be done with Basemap package
so that topological maps can be useful with it? Like using some GIS
webservice or similar?