Around the region

• The National Geographic Society recently unveiled a Geotourism MapGuide that showcases the Pacific Northwest's Central Cascades region. The MapGuide, which features over 200 geotourism sites selected by the National Geographic Society and regional committees, will allow a visitor to gain "a sense of the Central Cascades area as unique to any other place on Earth".
• Olympic National Park, near the Pacific coast of Washington, is hoping to expand. The increase would allocate the 240 additional acres to heighten protection of the sockeye salmon habitat in the area. The park already offers an array of activities and attractions including two temperate rainforest's in the continental U.S., Hoh Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest.