# free electronic atlases? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469 "2005-04-21T20:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469/1 "2005-04-21T20:23:29Z")
Anyone know of any open source/free atlas that can be used on a computer? Must have search capabilities (find cities, etc). Anyone? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469/2 "2005-04-21T21:32:29Z")
[World Wind](http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/), from NASA. ---
**Author:** ![silverfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@silverfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silverfish)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469/3 "2005-04-21T22:32:07Z")
There’s [Multimap](http://www.multimap.com/), that seems to provide road maps of everywhere in the world, and has a search facility. I’ve only used it for British places, but it does have search facilities for a number of countries, and a ‘world search’ facility, for other countries not otherwise covered. The website does list some things as subscription services, but most things seem to be free. You can zoom in or out as neccesary. The [CIA world Factbook](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/) does offer [reference maps](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/refmaps.html) of various areas of the world, and includes maps with its profiles of various countries and regions. It gives more of a broad overview of the areas, with major cities, rivers, borders, etc, rather than the greater detail of multimap. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469/4 "2005-04-21T22:40:55Z")
[Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/) is great for the US, and they’re aiming for world coverage. [Google Maps](http://maps.google.co.uk/) for the UK is up now too. ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469/5 "2005-04-22T14:35:37Z")
sorry, my bad. Meant to specify ‘downloaded’ or installed to a computer. Basically need to have something on a couple of computers with a search function. For example say I need to find some small less than commonly known city/town, Id like something that lets me punch in the name and have it localized on a map for me. There are several commercial applications that will let me do this, I’m just hoping there’s an open source (ie no fee involved) alternative since Im looking to install it on 6 computers. ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469/6 "2005-04-22T14:38:38Z")
urgh. (cont’d) and Id need to have offline capability as well. I’ve downloaded the CIA Worldfact book, and it has basic search features (the maps are PDF) it isn’t very comprehensive. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-electronic-atlases/300469/7 "2005-04-22T15:07:38Z")
I rather doubt you’ll find something that comprehensive at no cost. If you find that you’re forced to spend some cash, allow me to recommend DeLorme’s Street Atlas. Excellent program and not terribly costly - about 40 bucks [http://www.delorme.com/streetatlasusa/default.asp](http://www.delorme.com/streetatlasusa/default.asp) Here’s another one that ain’t too bad either: Microsoft’s Streets & Trips. Special deal going right now at [Buy.com](http://Buy.com) - less than $25 after the mail-in rebate: [http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=20361768&SearchEngine=LSchannelintelligence&SearchTerm=20361768&Type=LS&dcaid=1688](http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=20361768&SearchEngine=LSchannelintelligence&SearchTerm=20361768&Type=LS&dcaid=1688)