WASHINGTON, D.C. -

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and National Geographic Society will release the first-of-its-kind National Geographic Geotourism MapGuide to Appalachia, to be featured as a pull-out bonus in the April 2005 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

The geotourism map is the result of a unique alliance between ARC and the

National Geographic Society to design a map that will stimulate economic

development by showcasing the remarkable diversity of the Appalachian

region’s natural, cultural, and heritage assets.

Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a location, including its

environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.

To create this map, ARC’s state and local partners nominated over 1,000

destinations and experiences that they believe represent authentic

Appalachia.

Following extensive research, National Geographic selected 356 sites in the region, which Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine, has called "an undiscovered national treasure." Eye-catching photographs and informative text, authored by Appalachian writers, complete

the two-sided map.

The companion website at Nationalgeographic.com/appalachia features

articles on Appalachia, links to all 13 ARC state tourism websites and an interactive map of the region to assist travelers from anywhere in the world in planning their trips.

It also includes links to over 130 of the sites from the

printed version and encourages regional exploration. Additional sites will be

added to the website during the year.