Explore the Fantastic Forest

Curious kids visiting National Geographic Online can explore a virtual forest of hidden creatures and features. This richly illustrated, three-dimensional woodland is home to a variety of animals and their unique stomping grounds. As visitors hike along the forest path, they can search for the animals’ hiding places and learn how their habitats play a role in the larger environment. The site keeps track of what they find. When a running stream blocks your path, take a quiz to cross the water, then test your new knowledge by building a forest of your own. The first virtual forest on the Web, Fantastic Forest was a milestone in online experiences. The site was created for 3.0-generation browsers, which allowed for a more seamless Web experience and brought the medium a step closer to the media-rich capacity of CD-ROM. Background audio enlivens the forest with ambient and animal sounds. Users navigate through a 3-D environment, which was created by casting illustrator Bud Peen’s traditional two-dimensional watercolors onto a 3-D stage. A linear map also allows random exploration of the forest. QTVR panoramas are available at each stop along the way, and a special Shockwave “build your own forest” feature tests users’ knowledge and lets them print a certificate as document of their success.