does hbase:meta splits?

[gzh1992n]

Recently,I am reading code of HBase-1.0.1.1 and I find -root- table was
removed in HBase-0.96.
now,the locating process is "look up zookeeper --> query hbase:meta --> get
region location".
I'm confused that hbase:meta is so large how to maintain without -root-?