Geography Websites

The World Factbook
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been collecting and evaluating information on foreign countries since 1947. After many years of secrecy, the CIA has agreed to make this information available to the world. Just choose a country from the menu and the CIA will give you several pages (United Kingdom has eleven) of detailed information. At the beginning you are supplied with a map and flag. The rest of the information is listed under: 'Geography'; 'People'; 'Government'; 'Economy'; 'Transportation'; 'Communications' and 'Defence'. The section on Geography includes location, coordinates, area, land boundaries, coastline, climate, terrain, natural resources, land use, irrigated land and environment. Constantly updated this is one of the most important educational sites on the Internet. (KS2/3: Places & Thematic Studies HR)

The Map Machine
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/maps

There are several websites that provide maps. Probably the best of these is provided by the National Geographic Magazine. Developed in association with GeoSystems Global Corporation the 'Map Machine Atlas' enables the viewer to select any country in the world. The map is displayed with national flag and other factual information such as: population, capital, main religions, languages, literacy rate and life expectancy. There are also sections on the country's history and economy. The Web Machine also has collections of 'Political' and 'Physical' maps. A recent addition is 'View From Above' that shows maps of countries based on satellite photographs. (KS2/3/4: Geographical Skills HR)

The Tornado Project
http://www.tornadoproject.com

Tornado Project Online is a company that gathers, compiles, and makes tornado information available to weather enthusiasts, the meteorological community and emergency management officials. The company is using its website to share some of this information with the general public. This material appears under several headings including: 'Recent Tornadoes', 'Tornadoes in the Past', 'Storm Chasing', ''Top Tens About Tornadoes', 'Tornado Oddities', 'Tornado Stories', 'Tornado Safety' and 'Myths about Tornado'. (KS2/3: Weather UE)

Volcano World
http://volcano.und. nodak. edu

Volcano World website is managed by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. One of the services provided is a constantly updated list on current volcanic activity. Last time I visited the site there was information on forty-seven volcanoes, including the one at Montserrat that became active on 6th August, 1997. The website has an excellent section on 'Learning about Volcanoes'. There are also online teacher's guides and lesson plans available. (KS2/3: Tectonics GA HR)

Weather and Forecasting
http://www.meto.gov.uk/sec2/sec2.html

This website is provided by the Met. Office Education Department. The main section is 'The weather and how we forecast it". This is subdivided into the three steps required to make a forecast: 'Observations', 'Analysis' and 'Forecast'. There is also a feature on Automatic Weather Stations: how they work, information about sensors and problems in making measurements in built-up areas. The Met Office also provide two pages of GCSE project ideas and a list of books and leaflets they have produced for the National Curriculum. The Met Office also gives a good list of links with other weather sites on the Internet.

(KS2/3/4: Weather GA UE)

National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeograpic.com

An outstanding website that has been giving many awards for both content and design. This is clearly one of the best education websites on the Internet. Although the main objective is to sell the visitor books and magazines, this is not obtrusive and the vast majority of the space is taken up with high-quality educational resources. The most exciting area is the 'Features' section. These projects are often with other National Geographic ventures. King Cobra was a television programme made by National Geographic that was broadcast in the USA in August, 1997. Attractive graphics are used to provide interested information about the cobra. (KS2/3/4: Various HR)

Amazon Adventure
http://vif27.icair.iac.org.nz

The Amazon Adventure website is a resource that enables children to follow Andrew Mercer's trip along the Amazon river in Brazil and Peru. Sponsored by the Telecom Education Foundation in New Zealand, Mercer sends regular written reports and photographs on what he has discovered on his journey. Mercer points out that his aims are that "students involved in the project will learn about other cultures, and about how other people live... and understand the importance of protecting our environment." Back in New Zealand, Telecom Education Foundation use the information sent back by Mercer to produce teaching materials for online visitors. The materials are "designed to suit students at a range of levels, ranging from 5 to 14 years". Excellent resource for both primary and secondary school children. (KS2/3: Rivers/Environmental Change/Ecosystems HR)

Nature Dioramas
www.chias,org/www/diorama/intro.html

Founded in 1857, the Chicago Academy of Science is dedicated to increasing the understanding and appreciation of science through projects that focus on the natural environment. The Academy of Science has moved with the times and recently constructed a website that displays its collection of 'nature dioramas'. These are pictures which show groups of animals interacting in a particular habitat. This website allows you to explore what the Chicago region was like in the 19th century. This includes meadows, prairies, sand dunes, and fens populated by various species that have long disappeared from the region. Nature Dioramas is also linked with other Chicago Academy sites including Science Power Online, a weekly Internet TV Show. (KS2/3: Environmental Change/Ecosystems UE)

Global Earthquake Response Centre
http://www.earthquake.org/core.html

The Global Earthquake Response Centre provides news on the latest earthquakes. The website also contains an education section. This includes practical advice for schools about what to do if there is an earthquake in your area and resources for those who want to teach about the subject in the classroom. The website also provides links with other 'Earthquake Information Centres' and sites that are concerned with specific earthquakes. (KS3/4: Tectonics GA UE)

The Volcanic
http://www.mirrors.org.sq/volcano/v-home.htm

This website is funded by the Japanese Science and Technology Agency and the National Science Foundation. Regular features include sections on 'Current Eruptions', and 'The Volcanic Photo Gallery'. 'Volcanic Animations' gives the user the opportunity to watch five videos and two computer animations. There are also sections for academics and older students including: 'Online Volcanic Journal', 'Volcanic Bibliographic Database' and 'Guide to Volcanologists on the Internet'. The website also provides links with other Volcano Sites on the Internet including those at the Alaskan Volcano Observatory and the Nordic Volcanological Institute. (KS3/4: Tectonics 16+ GA UE)

Channel 4: Geography Eye
http://www.channel4.co.uk/schools/online_res.html

Channel 4 now provide free online resources that link with their Schools programmes called Net Notes. They are produced simultaneously with the programmes and offer accurate and current information on the subject and its relevance to the curriculum. Net Notes also provide links to related websites. This includes: Geography Eye Special: Planet Earth (August, 97) and Geography Eye: Disasters (October, 97). Channel 4 Online Guides provide supporting material for teachers and students. This includes: Place & People: Physical Geography (August, 97). There are also plans to provide Information Sheets to accompany programmes. The first one available is Geographical Eye: River Floods. Channel 4 Net Notes, Online Guides and Information Sheets may all be freely downloaded. (KS3/4: Places Weather Rivers UE)

Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org

On its home page Greenpeace tells us that it is "an independent, campaigning organisation which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future." The website provides the latest information on the "pollution and abuse of the earth's ocean, land, air and fresh water." This includes press releases and overviews of their current campaigns. There is also a very useful archive section that contains articles, photographs and sound recordings on global environmental issues. (KS3/4: Environmental Issues 16+ UE)

China
http://www.edu.cn/china

The website of the People's Republic of China. It includes a education section which includes educational resources that can be downloaded and used in the classroom. There is a useful map divided into thirty-three regions (including Hong Kong). By clicking the map you can receive detailed information about each province. Other sections on this website include: 'General Information', 'History', 'Arts', 'Festivals' and 'Food'. (KS3/4: Places GA UE)

Geography of Non-Western Cultures
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pdebacke r/gnwc.htm

Patrick DeBacker has created a website that provides links with sites that contain information on the 'Geography of the Non-Western Cultures'. These are usually links with other gateway websites. This includes: 'The Internet Guide to Japan', 'Africa On-line', 'Asia in Cyberspace', Malaysia Online', 'Pakistan' and 'India World - India on the Internet'. Under 'General World Studies' you can find find websites such as 'World Communities' and 'Natural Wonders Archive' (KS3/4: Places GA UE)