Do You Know Where You Are?

Can you name this Lake?

By: Dave Frey

I studied geography and geology in college and I've spent many professional years working with maps and local geographies of all kinds. Often I can visualize what a community will be like before I ever go there, just from the wealth of information collected through maps. But how easy is it to recognized mapped features and imagery from a community you live in and travel through every day?

With the help of some colleagues several months ago, I put together an on-line GeoQuiz. Buried in the web site for the Hands On Geography store, the geoquiz covers five different topic areas within the Grand Traverse region.

The first geoquiz simply gives you outlines of area lakes, a map scale, and a hint or two about the lake. Can you name the lake? (http://www.handsongeography.org/geoquiz_lakes1.asp)

More and more photo imagery is available for communities world wide - you don't even have to ‘visualize' what a community looks like any more when you have access to aerial photos and other imagery from the community. Of course, as soon as someone takes a picture, the information in that picture starts to go out of date. In our second geoquiz, you must identify the location from a ‘birdseye view' photograph, and in several locations there have been significant changes since the photo was taken. Where are we and how is it different now? (http://www.handsongeography.org/geoquiz_where1.asp)

The third geoquiz is the ‘pretty picture' geoquiz. More ‘birdseye view' photographs, but this time we are looking at some of the beautiful shoreline scenery in the region. Name those locations! (http://www.handsongeography.org/geoquiz_water1.asp)

Now it is time to put on your thinking cap and get the Motrin ready. Geoquiz number 4 is all about maps and data and local characteristics. Wineries, beautiful inland lakes, public parks, the cherry industry - so much to think about. How well do you really know the area, and how much do you know about thematic mapping? (http://www.handsongeography.org/geoquiz_theme1.asp)

Finally, we can't forget about local governments. If you are feeling beaten up after the thematic mapping geoquiz, buzz through and ace the ‘name the county, name the township' geoquiz and feel good about yourself again. (http://www.handsongeography.org/geoquiz_gov1.asp)

Enjoy!

Dave Frey is a long-time resident of Traverse City, a dad, map maker and part-timer at LIAA.