NGA GEOnet Names Server (GNS)
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The geographic names in this database are provided for the guidance of and use by the Federal Government and for the information of the general public. The names, variants and associated data may not reflect the views of the United States Government on the sovereignty over geographic features. |
Putting a Name to a Place
The Geographic Names Server is the official repository of standard spellings of all foreign place names, sanctioned by the United States Board on Geographic Names. The database also contains variant spellings (cross-references), which are useful for finding purposes. We are starting to hold the native script spellings of these names. All the geographic features in the database contain information about location, administrative division. and quality. The database can be used for a variety of purposes, including establishing official spellings of foreign place names, cartography, GIS, GEOINT, and finding places.
The GEOnet Names Server is currently undergoing maintenance activities. You may experience some interruption of service. Thank you for your patience.
Click Here for the OGC Viewer GNS Search Page.
Provides access to Web Map Services (WMS) interface and a high level graphical search. This page works best using Internet Explorer 7 or higher.
Click Here for the Text Based GNS Search page.Provides access to a text based query interface and mechanisms for initiating queries and generating outputs. This page can be viewed by most newer browsers.
Database last update - August 16, 2010
Database next estimated update - September 21, 2010
GNS offers Web Map services:
(WMS Version 1.1.0 - http://geonames.nga.mil/names/request.asp?REQUEST=getCapabilities)
and Web Feature Services:
(WFS Version 1.0.0 - http://geonames.nga.mil/nameswfs/request.aspx?REQUEST=GetCapabilities&SERVICE=wfs&VERSION=1.0.0)
(WFS Version 1.1.0 - http://geonames.nga.mil/nameswfs/request.aspx?REQUEST=GetCapabilities&SERVICE=wfs&VERSION=1.1.0).
**In order to utilize the WMS or WFS Services, you will need a WMS or WFS enabled client.**
NOTE:
The GEOnet Names Server (GNS) does not contain any data for the United States of America or its Dependent areas. To obtain U.S. data, please access the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database of names.
Geographic names data is freely available. A suitable citation note is: "Toponymic information is based on Geographic Names Database, containing official standard names approved by the United States Board on Geographic Names and maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. More information is available at the Maps and Geodata link at www.nga.mil. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency name, initials, and seal are protected by 10 United States Code §Section 445."
