Iran Insights

The August issue of National Geographic Magazine features an article on ancient Persia (Iran), supported by a supplement map of the Persian Empire. The reverse side is a current physical map of Iran. Coming to a mailbox or newsstand near you!

Finalists for The Outdoor Geographic Awareness Awards

National Geographic Maps and National Geographic Adventure Magazine are pleased to announce the finalists for the first annual The Outdoor Geographic Awareness (TOGA) Awards.

The awards seek to identify and showcase outdoor retailers, manufacturers, nonprofit and government organizations and individuals who are finding new and creative ways to promote geographic awareness and build outdoor participation.

The awards will be presented on Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, at 4 p.m. at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, in the National Geographic Maps booth #30039.

Here are the finalists:

Outdoor Retailer Category:
- Great Outdoor Provision Co.
- Midwest Mountaineering
- REI

Outdoor Manufacturer Category:
- Bells from Everest
- The North Face
- Patagonia

Nonprofit Category:
- American Hiking Society
- The Conservation Alliance
- Leave No Trace

Individuals Category:
- Sam Drevo (eNRG Kayaking)
- Eric Laren (Save the Poles)
- Sarah Wilson (Adventure Heroes)

TOGA Awards reflect National Geographic’s mission to inspire people to care about the planet and to encourage people of all ages to explore their world.

Map Projection

This corny school film from the 40s does a pretty good job of introducing the concept of map projection - the art of translating the round Earth to a flat piece of paper.

Ironically, at the time of this film most schools displayed maps using the Mercator projection. This projection was created for maps that would show shipping channels and was never suited for use as a general use political or physical world map.

All projections involve some distortion, whether of shape, land mass, or distance; generally all three. Thus choice of projection is based on the area depicted, the purpose and desired aesthetics of the map.

National Geographic currently employs the Winkel Tripel projection for all our world maps.

For teachers, a lesson plan on projections is here.

Video: Nat Geo's Outdoor Recreation Mapping Program

Here's an overview of our outdoor rec. map program including interviews with VP/Products Dan Ortiz and Trails Illustrated Product Manager Shane Matthews:

NatGeoMaps Coming To Trail Festivals Saturday

Two of America's great local trail events happen Saturday, July 19th in Washington and Colorado, and NatGeo Maps will be at both:

The great outdoors of Washington is calling! Come to TrailsFest at Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend. This outdoor extravaganza features clinics on everything from wilderness first aid to hiking with kids to backcountry cooking. Take a guided hike, tie a fly on, or climb a rock wall. Try out a new s’mores recipe, or hang out with packgoats. Visit dozens of exhibitors, including gear companies and outdoor groups.

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Continental Divide Trail — the highest and wildest national scenic trail — at TrailFest at McPhelemy Park in Buena Vista, Colorado. There will be free guided treks – everything from family-friendly hikes to mountain biking to a 14er summit, plus outdoor booths, free gear demos, clinics and activities for kids.

We Like Dirty Avocados

National Geographic Maps is proud to sponsor the Dirty Avocados adventure racing team as they embark on the grueling ten-day Primal Quest race.

Learn more about Primal Quest Montana

Learn more about Dirty Avocados

Learn more about the Sponsored Athlete program

1,033,801 miles of trails!

Now you'll find more than a million miles of trails, along with detailed USGS topographic maps and 4-meter resolution aerial imagery, at topo.com.

Sign up for a free account and join our community!

Here's Mud in Your....All Over

We joined sponsor Adventure Magazine today at Muddy Buddy in San Jose, California.

Muddy Buddy is a series of adventure races that, after 7 miles of running and biking, end in a mud pit. Two thousand particpants were muddied but not bloodied. And many visited our tent and learned about new and forthcoming Trails Illustrated maps of the Sierras, such as Mammoth Lakes, as well as TOPO! Explorer.

sponsored by

Scientists Continue Research Through Night

Sunset came to BioBlitz at around 8:00pm last night and as some of the last groups headed out for field collection an intrepid group continued to record, identify, georeference, and blog straight on through dawn.

Even between 1:00 and 2:00am there was still an eager, but somewhat bleary eyed crew of NG Staffers and volunteers at the scientific tent at Paramount Ranch. Just up the road a few hundred yards several entomologists using sodium lights and a white parachute like backdrop, attracted a diverse set of moths for collection.

Temperatures quickly cooled off and the NG Maps team of Jess Elder, David Wright, and myself made frequent rounds to the food tent for coffee to keep warm. "We've georeferenced and uploaded hundreds of photos taken by teams throughout the day." remarked Elder, "By the time the sun comes up will be ready for the next influx of research."



Now at 6:00am ... a heavy dew is covering most of the surfaces. The bustle of activity is beginning to heat up again. And soon, the sun will peak out from behind the foothills and warm the few of us here up!

Looking at the current species tally board which ran all night, the count is approaching 700 with plants accounting for nearly 65% of the reported finds from the first 18 hours.

More to follow as we march towards the close of BioBlitz Santa Monica!

Song Bird Recordings

Earlier this morning William Hoese, a professor from Cal State Fullerton, walked by the maps booth with a microphone and digital recorder. Prof. Hoese had just captured songs from a male sparrow.

David Wright and Jess Elder of NG Maps, toured him through Metalens, which is being used to map the BioBlitz scientific findings. A few minutes later Hoese returned with a group of Hale Elementary Students, who posted comments about their collection efforts.



At 2:48 the first species counts came in from the morning collections... 105 distinct so far!