Today is GIS Day!

Geography is more than just maps—it's about understanding our world and the innumerable factors that have created place over time. However, maps are one of the most essential tools that geographers use to understand the constant changes of our planet and its inhabitants.

An important modernization of mapping has been the development of geographic information systems (GIS): computer systems and associated technology that allow users to create maps to display, analyze, and interact with valuable geographic information.

Geographers, explorers, and scientists alike are using GIS to map the African continent in new and exciting ways. We can now track the migration of elephants through national parks, find areas of deforestation in Africa's rain forests, evaluate the use and distribution of natural resources, and much more.

Map your own exploration of Africa!

Image of National Geographic's MapMachine

Test Your Africa IQ with our interactive quiz on Google Earth.

MORE ABOUT GIS AND MAPPING

About GIS

The Guide to GIS (ESRI)

What Is GIS? (Flash presentation) (ESRI)

Introduction to GIS (FEMA)

Online Maps

MapMachine (National Geographic and ESRI)

Geography Network (ESRI)

Google Maps

Google Earth 3-D Globe

National Atlas (U.S. Department of the Interior)

World Wind (NASA)

In Google Earth

Tracks4Africa
Google Earth is all about GIS and mapping, of course. Fitting in perfectly with our Africa theme is a new featured layer on the 3-D globe—Tracks4Africa, a pan-Africa mapping initiative. To view it, open Google Earth (get it free here) and click the box next to "Tracks4Africa" in the Featured Content folder. Then zoom into the African continent, click on the "4" icons, and explore! (Learn more about Tracks4Africa.)

GeoCaching (Real-Life "Treasure" Hunting Using GPS)

EarthCache

Geocaching

Navicache

TerraCaching

Waymarking

Map Mashups (Maps Plus Videos, Photos, More)

GCensus

Maplandia

Virtual Tourism

World Heritage Sites

Make Your Own Maps

StickyMap

Topographic Maps

Wayfaring

FOR EDUCATORS: GIS AND MAPPING RESOURCES

Lessons From National Geographic Xpeditions

Grades K-2: Explore Your State With Maps

Grades K-2: Getting Lost

Grades K-2: Introduction to Latitude and Longitude

Grades K-2: Over the River and Through the Woods: Traveling by Memory (Mental Maps)

Grades K-2: Using Maps to See Regions

Grades 3-5: Comparing the Continents

Grades 3-5: Make State Maps With MapMachine

Grades 3-5: Mental Map of Your Classroom

Grades 3-5: Planning a Road Trip

Grades 3-5: Satellite Spyglass: Formal, Functional, and Perceptual Regions

Grades 3-5: What We Can Learn From Maps

Grades 3-5: Which Direction Should I Go?

Grades 6-8: Contour Maps with DOGTAILS

Grades 6-8: GIS: Helping to Save the African Wild

Grades 6-8: How Can Maps Help?

Grades 6-8: How Do We Find Our Way?

Grades 6-8: Latitude, Longitude, and Mapmaking

Grades 6-8: School Space: An Analysis of Map Perceptions

Grades 6-8: Spatial Organizations: Identification of Functional Regions

Grades 6-8: Using Maps in Ocean Research

Grades 9-12: A Look at the Population Density of the U.S.

Grades 9-12: Map Projections

Grades 9-12: Map Projections and Careers in Geography

Grades 9-12: Maps and Current Events

Grades 9-12: Regional Layers: Low-Tech Geographic Information Systems

Grades 9-12: What Can We Learn From Satellite Images?

Lessons and Tools From ESRI

Africa Map-Related Lessons (Geography Awareness Week)

GIS for Schools

GIS for Higher Education

ArcWeb Services for Students and Educators

ArcLessons

Lessons and Tools From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

GIS Lessons

Working With Maps

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Comments

[Margaret]

Hi! Very interesting!
;)

[Gustaw]

Let it be, let it be... What a strange place here.
;)

[Lukasz]

keep up the good work!
;)

[Roma]

Thanks for your project. I like this site. KEEP IT UP...
;)

[My Wonderful World]

Thanks, Victor. We'll certainly look forward to seeing you back!

[My Wonderful World]

You're welcome, Paulina, and thank YOU.
Please continue to visit the site and give us any feedback you might have.

[Paulina]

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;)

[Rosalie]

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;)

[Urzula]

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;)

[Victor]

Excellent web site I will be visiting oftene
;)

[Wincenty]

I have not understood your message.
;)

[Theodora]

This is a cool site! Thanks and wish you better luck! Brilliant but simple idea.
;)