Tonic.com
By Jill K. Robinson
Thursday, April 8, 2010

Discover what’s special about the Sierra Nevada with a new online interactive map.

highsierra_camping_joshfeinberg.jpgNational Geographic has unveiled its newest online Geotourism MapGuide, which highlights the wonders of Yosemite National Park as well as the natural and cultural heritage of the region. The MapGuide to the Yosemite Gateway is the first of four regions to be highlighted within the Sierra Nevada.

More than 800 map points are contained in the guide, covering deserted mining towns, local festivals and coffee houses in historic buildings. In addition, visitors can explore the communities, natural features and outdoor adventures in preparation for a trip to the Yosemite area and the surrounding Sierra Nevada.

The National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations works with community-based local geotourism alliances to create co-branded National Geographic maps that highlight the "natural, historic and cultural assets unique to a destination." Other MapGuide projects that have been completed or are ongoing are: California's Redwood Coast, Central Cascades, Greater Yellowstone, Sonora Desert (Arizona, Sonora), Vermont, Appalachia, Crown of the Continent (Alberta, British Columbia, Montana), Montreal, Baja California, Guatemala and Peru.

Future Sierra Nevada regions will soon follow as MapGuides, and you can help. Each MapGuide project solicits nominations from people interested in sharing their knowledge of the area. Nominations are now open for the Tahoe Emigrant Corridor, which includes the counties of Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Washoe, Douglas and Carson. The final two MapGuides will guide visitors through the Northern and Southern Sierra regions.

Click to Learn More: http://www.tonic.com/article/national-geographic-launches-geotourism-mapguide-for-yosemite-gateway/