- Online maps: current maps of Iraq on line are
available at various sites. These are high megabyte images, so downloading
them may require substantial download times. Viewing them, however,
should be helpful to clarify items in the news. See the following,
from About.com, National Imagery and Mapping Agency [NIMA], the United
Nations, and the Perry Castaneda Library at University of Texas,
for example.
Use any major search engine and search by keywords: Iraq map;
Iraq maps; Iraq atlas; Iraq satellite; Iraq imagery. You should
find more than you can use!
About.com
- Iraq: Geography, Maps and Information
NIMA
Special Reference Graphics
United Nations'
Satellite Imagery
Perry-Castaņeda
Library - Map Collection: Iraq Maps
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Paper maps: Visit your local map library! Most
universities have map libraries, where they receive U. S. Government
produced maps on deposit, from the C.I.A. and from the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency [NIMA]. Both these agencies have web
sites where you can see maps. Just type their name and the word
maps on any major search engine. Road maps, hydrographic and aeronautical
charts, topographic maps, economic maps and atlases are some of
the types of maps available for Iraq and the Middle East region.
-
World atlases: Your local library will have excellent
world atlases, such as National Geographic and the Rand McNally
International atlases, or the Times atlas. Each of these has detailed
maps of the region in conflict. Check the copyright date to make
sure the atlas is current.
-
Bookstores: National bookstore chains, such as
Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. usually have a travel section
with maps if you want to purchase some. Local map stores in the
New York metro area are out of Iraq maps, but expect more in within
a week.
-
Online map dealers: Online map dealers
you can contact are:
East View Cartographic
Map Link
National Geographic
Omni Resources
-
Newspaper maps: Clip newspaper maps and save
in a file for quick reference. Look for regional maps of the nations
around Iraq; city maps of Baghdad; and maps of Iraq itself. Clipping
these throughout the war will give you an interesting view of how
the maps change. Be sure to identify the news source and to date
the maps you clip, so you can examine them later in chronological
order.
-
Placenames: On any major search engine, type
in your placename, [there may be variant spellings!]. Many times
this alone will give you clues as to location.
You can also try the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency [NIMA] GeoNet gazetteer. Identify
the country; type in the name you seek; scroll down and click
on search. This url does not always seem to work, so go to any
major search engine and type “nima geonames” and
the placename gazetteer should come up.
-
If you have questions, please e-mail the Map
Division at mapref@nypl.org.
The Map Division has hundreds of maps and atlases covering Iraq
and the Middle East. Visit us Tuesday-Saturday and note that we
open at 1:00 p.m. daily. Hours
