Exploration has long been an important part of geography.Discoveries can come by using computers to map and analyze the relationship among things in geographic space, or from piecing together the multiple forces, near and far, that shape the way individual places develop.Applying a geographic perspective demonstrates geography's concern not just with where things are, but with "the why of where"--a short, but useful definition of geography's central focus. The insights that have come from geographic research show the importance of asking "the why of where" questions.7???????????????