Is There a Free Online Atlas?

[VetLegion]

I'd like to use some maps on my web site. I mostly use Encarta World Atlas for reference but I'm sure those maps are copyright protected.

Google maps also has pretty strict terms of use.

I've found some sites with scans of old atlases (presumably the copyright expired) but the resolution is too low.

So does anyone know of a free atlas I could download/use?

[RGBVideo]

nm

[Lonestar]

Try the CIA World Factbook

[SlowwHand]

That's an excellent site.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Use google maps through their API. It is pretty open (as such things go) and simple to use. That way you don't pick up all the legal issues involved with downloading/reusing their content.

[snoopy369]

Copyrights of anything post 1920ish are not expired unless the owner no longer exists (and did not pass them to someone else), iirc. The World Factbook is a great choice, though.

[mrmitchell]

There are probably old atlases lapsed out of copyright at your local library that you can scan. Then again, the older you get, it's going to be inaccurate for things like political borders etc.

I dunno if Google would ever b*tch for you using a map for your own personal little nonprofit webpage, though.

[Barnabas]

Talking about old atlases, the other dday I discovered yemen is no longer 2 countries

when did they get unified?

[Odin]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
Talking about old atlases, the other dday I discovered yemen is no longer 2 countries

when did they get unified?

1990 IIRC.

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by mrmitchell
I dunno if Google would ever b*tch for you using a map for your own personal little nonprofit webpage, though.

Yeah, but if I put ads on the page one day, it becomes for profit and I break the licence.

Anyway, I found an excellent online atlas/map collection where most maps aren't copyrighted

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/