Studying the location of places and analyzing their significance: the
interaction of physical, climatic, economic, and historical factors has
long been the cornerstone of geography. This week, U.S. Geological
Survey
(USGS) cartographers and geographers will host activities nationwide to
encourage people to discover geography as part of celebrating Geography
Awareness Week, November 15-22, 1998.
In keeping with this year's theme "People, Places and Patterns:
Geography
Puts the Pieces Together," the USGS has also created a web site:
http://www.usgs.gov/education/living/geography/
highlighting exciting and fun activities on learning geography. By
visiting the web site, you can browse through the USGS National Atlas
and design your own map, view
satellite images from Earthshots, discover famous places, or see if you
can
find your own neighborhood on the Mircosoft Terraserver. Reference and
educational products such as Helping Your Child Learn Geography, Finding
Your Way with Map and Compass, and Working with Maps are also available
on
the web site or can be obtained from any USGS Earth Science Information
Center (ESIC). For more information about these and other available
products, contact any ESIC at 1-800-USA-MAPS.