National Geographic releases new atlas, Web site

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Oct 28, 1999 by AP

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON --- Combining more than a century of traditional mapping with modern technology, the National Geographic Society is issuing a massive new world atlas and making its maps available on the Internet.

"It's a great day for maps," the society's chief cartographer, Allen Carroll, said in announcing the steps Wednesday at a news conference at 38 degrees 54 minutes 18 seconds north latitude, 77 degrees 2 minutes 18 seconds west longitude.

"Not too many years ago, maps were pretty passive things. Back then, maps were kind of like nouns, now they've become active verbs," Carroll said of the book-Internet combination.

The atlas' seventh edition includes such changes as the breakup of Yugoslavia, the creation of the native territory Nunavut in Canada, new provincial boundaries in Poland and changing country names in Africa.

It also marks the end of a three-year, $3 million effort to put all society maps on the Internet --- at www.nationalgeographic.com/ mapmachine.

The book costs $125 while the Internet is free --- supported by advertising and sponsors. But society officials are confident a market exists for both.

"We think they are a perfect combination," Carroll said.