CHANGELOG

2012-10-12: 2.0.0

- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/miscellaneous/natural-earth-v2-0-0-release-notes/.

- Many thanks to the individuals who contributed over the last year of development: Tom, Nathaniel, Alex Tait, Hans van der Maarel, Scott Zillmer, Mike Migurski, Daniel Huffman, Xan Gregg, Peter Bispham, Drew Noakes, Miguel Angel Vilela, Matthew Toro, Kevin Pickell, Shawn Allen, Robert Coup, Iain, Leo, and more! Thanks also to Stamen thru the Knight Foundation Citytracking grant for sponsoring a portion of this work including remastering geometries for better PostGIS import, the move to Github, and adopting semantic versioning.

GENERAL

- UPDATED:  NATURAL_EARTH_UPDATE_2.0.0 - This release focuses on 7 major areas: 
1) Economic geography: adds global roads, railroads, ports, airports, and time zones to 
show how people are interconnected and goods route.
2) Remastered geometries: fixes topological errors at 1:10 to 1:1,000 scales in the basic 
coastline, ocean, land, admin-0, and admin-1 related themes for files in the the 1:10m 
scaleset. By removing self-intersections, sliver polygons, and adjusting offset polygons, 
Natural Earth imports into more GIS software (like PostGIS) and will be easier to 
maintain. The coastline is adjusted to better conform to ~1:3,000,000 satellite imagery. 
Because of all these changes, some raster themes are also updated. Land, ocean, and minor 
islands all build topologically by scripting ingredients, as do the admin-0 and admin-1 
cultural themes.
3) Introduce Gray Earth rasters. Worldwide terrain depicted monochromatically in shades of 
gray. It combines shaded relief and regionally adjusted hypsography that emphasizes both 
high mountains and the micro terrain found in lowlands. View new raster »
4) New file name and field name schemas. Full adoption of ne_10m_theme_name.shp file names 
with `ne_` prefix to allow better import into GeoDB and PostGIS storage, lowercase field 
(column) names instead of MiXeD and UPPER cased names, and use of consistent `name` field 
(versus name1).
5) Address user submitted bug reports, ~25 since the 1.4 release, and earlier.
6) Moved to Github for the backend versioned file management and coordination. Includes 
scripts to package updates and auto-create derived themes. 
7) Adopt semantic versioning. Know, by theme, the level of effort needed to update your 
maps when Natural Earth data updates are released. 
* Other notable changes:
All themes now include README and VERSION files. The admin-0 attributes have more veracity 
and now includes nested disputed areas (was a sidecar). Adds continent, region, subregion 
codes. Adds versions of country and admin-1 without boundary lakes.  All places and parts 
of places have population and GDP estimates. The populated places pop_max and pop_min 
attributes are now fully built out for all records (pop max is for the metropolitan area, 
pop_min is for the incorporated city of the same name). populated places now include 
rank_max and rank_min for simple town size grading. All instances of name1 have been 
changed to name, name to name, name2 to name_alt. Vertexes were added to many themes to 
allow them to project into conics smoothly (they're back!). All field (column) names are 
now generally in the order of: scalerank, featurecla, name, name_alt, natscale, 
labelrank, *.

PACKAGES

- UPDATED:  NATURAL_EARTH_QUICK_START - Incorporates all changes above and below.

10M_BUILDING_BLOCKS

- **NEW**:  NE_10M_LAND_OCEAN_LABEL_POINTS - Used for building the 10m
            physical geometry.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_MINOR_ISLAND_LABEL_POINTS - Used for building the
            10m physical geometry.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_LABEL_POINTS - Used for building the 10m
            cultural geometry.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_LABEL_POINTS.GDB - Used for building the
            10m cultural geometry.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_LABEL_POINTS_DETAILS.GDB - Used for
            building the 10m cultural geometry.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_LAND_OCEAN_SEAMS - Used for building the 10m
            physical geometry. Includes densified vertex along lines to allow
            smooth projection into conics.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_SEAMS - Used for building the 10m cultural
            geometry. Includes densified vertex along lines to allow smooth
            projection into conics.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_SEAMS - Used for building the 10m cultural
            geometry. Includes densified vertex along lines to allow smooth
            projection into conics.

NATURAL_EARTH_VECTOR

- **NEW**:  NATURAL_EARTH_VECTOR.SQLITE All natural earth themes
            packaged in a single sqlite database file.

HOUSEKEEPING

- UPDATED:  NE_ADMIN_0_DETAILS - Track admin-0 countries and other
            levels. Updated for South Sudan, map colors, population figures,
            removed () from notes, and more. note: diffs between sov, adm0, map
            units, map subunits, and new breakaways are all calculated on the a3
            codes now, no longer mix of names and a3 codes. Added and split
            note_adm0 and note_brk to note which countries are parts of which
            sovereignties and who's breaking away or disputing. One spurious
            “county” feature code fixed to “country” (finland). Added labelrank
            on all. Added new mapcolors (7, 8, 9 and old 13). Includes new
            detail on Caribbean Netherlands map unit. Adds more detail to Bhutan
            disputed areas. Now includes continent codes, and future region code
            placeholder columns. Fixes over 2.0.0 release candidate 2 problems
            in Georgia, Chile, and Cyprus for parts that had scaleranks > 6 and
            were disappearing from countries and up on selection / dissolve.
            Added name_len to know when to abbreviate labels.
- **NEW**:  NE_ADMIN_0_FULL_ATTRIBUTES - Added as placeholder for
            extra thematic data by country (eg from World Bank, CIA World
            Factbook, etc) but only has old 1.2 era data for now.
- **NEW**:  NE_ADMIN_1_DETAILS - Track admin-1 states and provinces.
- UPDATED:  NE_THEMES_VERSIONS - What version is each file at? Stats on each.

10M_CULTURAL

- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_SOVEREIGNTY - See changelog for 
            ne_10m_admin_0_scale_rank_minor_islands, below. 
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_COUNTRIES - See changelog for 
            ne_10m_admin_0_scale_rank_minor_islands, below. 
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_MAP_UNITS - See changelog for 
            ne_10m_admin_0_scale_rank_minor_islands, below. 
- UPDATED:  ne_10m_admin_0_map_subunits - See changelog for 
            ne_10m_admin_0_scale_rank_minor_islands, below. 
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_DISPUTED_AREAS - See changelog for
            ne_10m_admin_0_disputed_areas_scale_rank, below. 
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_DISPUTED_AREAS_SCALE_RANK - Now derived
            from the admin-0 scale ranks. specific admin_a3 codes have been
            added for each. additional disputed areas have been added, some
            modified, including adding Taiwan, more detail around Bhutan, and
            adding labelrank attribute to help know when it's relevant to label
            on map. Fixes: N96NSYPAPV.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_SCALE_RANK - See changelog for 
            ne_10m_admin_0_scale_rank_minor_islands, below.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_SCALE_RANK_MINOR_ISLANDS - Name change to
            removed plural from scale rank. Rebuilt geometry so all admin-0
            parts have coincidental boundary linework (no sliver polygons, no
            small self-intersection loops). Uses updated admin-0 details, including
            final iso code for South Sudan, recombining Gaza Strip and West Bank 
            into Palestine, retiring Maly Vysotsky island back to Russia as the 
            Finish lease expired. Now incorporates disputed areas an some depreciated
            areas for easier political map assembly. Fixes: VS55865Z8A, 2MH8QDPMWZ, 
            89272PRVWP, 86981W1MPA, WUAU1PQN6H, 8XV9T88TM6, AWLB5ZJXMN.
- UPDATED:  ne_10m_admin_0_boundary_lines_land - Minor updates to
            alignment of boundary lines (and topology fixes), additional coding to
            allow official US gov't view of same. better disputed coding, including 
            Kosovo. Densified vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into 
            conics. Moved Omani exclave Madha to correct location. Adds left and right
            labels and codes. Fixes: N96NSYPAPV, ZQNTN5VGDD, Z8ZYYUQZVS.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_LINES_MARITIME_INDICATOR - Minor
            updates, including marking Alaska / BC boundary as disputed. Moved
            Hong Kong admin-1 line to admin-0 marine indicator. Includes
            densified vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
            name1 have been changed to name, name to name, name2 to name_alt.
            Fixes: 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_LINES_MAP_UNITS - Minor updates to
            alignment of boundary lines, additional coding to allow official US
            gov't view of same. Better disputed coding. Densified vertex along
            lines to allow smooth projection into conics. The ZIP now contains the
            lines, not the polygons. Fixes: N96NSYPAPV, ZP7DXPEM1M
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_LINES_DISPUTED_AREAS - Minor
            updates to alignment of boundary lines, additional coding to allow
            official US gov't view of same. Better disputed coding. Densified
            vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics. Adds
            notes about who's claim the line is in the name column. Fixes:
            N96NSYPAPV.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_PACIFIC_GROUPINGS - Densified vertex along
            lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_ANTARCTICA_CLAIMS - Although countries have
            paused their claims to the southernmost continent,  they haven't
            suspended them. Thanks, Hans!
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_0_ANTARCTICA_CLAIM_LIMIT_LINES - Although
            countries have paused their claims to the southernmost continent, 
            they haven't suspended them. Thanks, Hans!
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_SHP - Multiple, see changelog fr
            ne_10m_admin_1_states_provinces_geodb.gdb, below.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_LINES_SHP - Multiple, see changelog fr
            ne_10m_admin_1_states_provinces_geodb.gdb, below.
            Now an export of the geodb version (some details lost in
            utf8-windows1252 character conversion). Note the _shp postfix is
            enforced now.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_LINES_GEODB.gdb - To allow
            for left and right labeling along lines using the utf8 names.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_GEODB.gdb - Rebuilt
            geometry so all admin-1 have coincidental boundary line work (no
            sliver polygons, no small self-intersection loops) and new coastline
            (Gibraltar is in the right spot, 1000s of other spots world wide).
            Removed duplicate lines in the philippine. Added new provinces in
            New Zealand. Moved Hong Kong admin-1 line to admin-0 marine
            indicator. Fixed Canada boundary between Labrador and Quebec. Fixes
            Czech admin-1 regions. Uses updated admin-1 details. name1 have been
            changed to name, name to name, name2 to name_alt. Added name_len to
            know when to abbreviate labels. Updates map colors. No longer 
            includes Baffin Island lake. Fixes 95ZDQXDPHW, G8Y31LEYY8, 
            XZ2G1MU9HJ, 4VA9P9UGQE, WNVSE7BTRM.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_LAKES_GEODB.gdb - Multiple, see 
            changelog for ne_10m_admin_1_states_provinces_geodb.gdb, above.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_LAKES_SHP -  Multiple, see 
            changelog for ne_10m_admin_1_states_provinces_geodb.gdb, above.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_SCALE_RANK_GEODB.gdb  Multiple, 
            see changelog for ne_10m_admin_1_states_provinces_geodb.gdb, above.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_SCALE_RANK_MINOR_ISLANDS_GEODB.gdb -
            Multiple, see changelog for ne_10m_admin_1_states_provinces_geodb.gdb.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_POPULATED_PLACES - A couple name corrections
            (Morelia, Mexico spelling fixed. Mazatlan, Mexico spelling fixed.
            Clarified confusion around Tabatinga / Leticia on the Colombian /
            Brazilian border. On the Brazil / Bolivia border, clarified
            Brasileia / Cobija. Fixed spelling of Shuozhou, China), many
            population max values, mostly in China, India, rift valley (Africa),
            Nigeria, and other countries in east Asia, but some elsewhere. Made 
            sure cities in Switzerland are coded admin-0 of CH and China are CN.
            Moved Amundsen Base to 176° so it's in the -12 timezone. Also moved
            Peter I Island. Vatican City is also moved to be contained by it's
            admin-0 polygon. Same for San Marino. Added a poprank column with 0
            to 14 numerical classes. Deleted spurious Extra Eureka town in Canada 
            near Greenland. Delete duplicate town Urengoy in RUS, rename the real
            one Novy Urengoy. Fixes: 4SUAZ7BB49, D459XT1Z6Y.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_POPULATED_PLACES_LESS_COLUMNS - Now auto generated
            from the - ne_10m_populated_places file. see that changelog.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_URBAN_AREA - Removed spurious urban polygons in
            Nevada and other high reflectance desert areas or ice fields like on
            Mt. Hood in Oregon. Added detailed scalerank attributes.
- NO DIFF:  NE_10M_LANDSCAN_URBAN_AREAS.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_PARKS_AND_PROTECTED_LANDS_AREA - Filename is now
            parks and protected lands, but content remains exclusively United
            States only. Several new parks added, see readme. Fixed topology
            errors. Adjusted coastlines to match new coastlines. Adjusted a few
            scale ranks for zooms 2, 3, 4.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_PARKS_AND_PROTECTED_LANDS_SCALE_RANKS - Source for
            dissolved park area multi-polygons.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_PARKS_AND_PROTECTED_LANDS_LINES - Filename is now
            parks and protected lands, but content remains exclusively united
            states only. several new parks added, see readme.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_PARKS_AND_PROTECTED_LANDS_POINTS - Filename is now
            parks and protected lands, but content remains exclusively United
            States only. Several new parks added including Cesar Chavez National
            Monument, see readme for full details. Added missing “name” column.
            Some reranking for scaleranks 7, 8, 9 for parks in urban centers.
            Added missing unit_codes for Clinton Birthplace NHS and River Raisin
            NBP.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ROADS - Now global coverage, includes scaleranks.
            new Europe roads include route numbers and road types. Added some
            detail in North America.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ROADS_NORTH_AMERICA_SUPPLEMENT - Now includes scaleranks.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_RAILROADS - Now global coverage, includes scaleranks.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_AIRPORTS - Added airports as a selection of Mile High Club (updated).
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_PORTS - Added ports as a selection from High Seas (updated).
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_TIME_ZONES   Generalized time zones, thanks Alex!
            Includes special dispensation for Antarctica.

10M_PHYSICAL

- UPDATED:  NE_10M_RIVERS_LAKE_CENTERLINES - See changelog for 
            ne_10m_rivers_lake_centerlines_scale_ranks for details.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_RIVERS_LAKE_CENTERLINES_SCALE_RANKS - Updated river
            names, few new rivers, splits. added river connector in Sweden
            between lake near Stockholm and Baltic Sea. Fixes in France and
            Netherlands. Fixes Mackenzie river at it's confluence with Dawson
            river in Australia. Names the Mahakam in Borneo (Rivernum 544). 
            Changes scalerank on Nelson river in Canada.
            Fixes: SHAWNZQJ3B, 5J47B13PJ7, W9X539LBUT, 35YLBL2W9Z.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_RIVERS_LAKE_CENTERLINES_NORTH_AMERICA_SUPPLEMENT -
            Updated river names, few new rivers, splits. Fixes: SHAWNZQJ3B,
            5J47B13PJ7.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_RIVERS_LAKE_CENTERLINES_EUROPE_SUPPLEMENT - Updated
            river names, few new rivers, splits. fixed topology errors. Fixes:
            SHAWNZQJ3B.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_LAKES - Removed major lake groupings (Great Lakes,
            Finger Lakes, etc) to geography label areas instead. Title cased the
            feature class values. Added Swedish lake near Stockholm (had been
            extension of Baltic Sea in ocean theme). Fixed topology errors.
            Fixed a few reservoir and salt lake codes (thanks Craig!).
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_LAKES_NORTH_AMERICA_SUPPLEMENT - Name1 have been
            changed to name, name to name, name2 to name_alt. Fixes 4VA9P9UGQE.
- NO DIFF:  NE_10M_LAKES_EUROPE_SUPPLEMENT.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_LAKES_HISTORIC - Name1 have been changed to name,
            name to name, name2 to name_alt. Updated scale ranks so Aral Sea is
            3, lake in Mexico is now 8. Fixes 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_LAKES_PLUVIAL - Fixed topology errors.
- NO DIFF:  NE_10M_PLAYAS.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_POLYS - Now includes major lake
            groupings (Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, etc) moved, from lake theme.
            Fixed topology errors. Title case feature class values. Removed
            duplicate Laccadive Islands poly.
- NO DIFF:  NE_10M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_POINTS.
- NO DIFF:  NE_10M_GEOGRAPHY_ELEVATION_POINTS.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GEOGRAPHY_MARINE_POLYS - Updated the scale ranks
            for better zoom-by-zoom mapping. Fixed topology errors.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_LAND - A dissolved version of the original 1.x
            file, now renamed "ne_10m_land_scale_rank", see that changelog for 
            full details. Fixes XAWXTN54GT.
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_LAND_SCALE_RANKS - Renamed our original land file
            to this. Incorporates new coastline. Includes densified vertex along 
            lines to allow smooth projection into conics. Fixes XAWXTN54GT.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_OCEAN - A dissolved version of the original 1.x
            file, now renamed "ne_10m_ocean_scale_rank", see that changelog for 
            full details. Fixes XAWXTN54GT. 
- **NEW**:  NE_10M_OCEAN_SCALE_RANKS - Renamed our original ocean file
            to this. Incorporates new coastline. Removed Swedish lake near 
            Stockholm  (had been extension of Baltic Sea in ocean theme) to lakes
            layer. Incorporates new coastline. Includes densified vertex along 
            lines to allow smooth projection into conics. Fixes XAWXTN54GT.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_COASTLINE - Better matches modern satellite imagery
            to zoom 8-ish. The earlier coastline could have been several
            kilometers off (like in Gibraltar). Several large new islands added.
            Includes densified vertex along lines to allow smooth projection
            into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_MINOR_ISLANDS - Better matches modern satellite
            imagery to zoom 8-ish. the earlier coastline could have been several
            kilometers off. several hundred small new islands added.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_MINOR_ISLANDS_COASTLINE - Better matches modern
            satellite imagery to zoom 8-ish. the earlier coastline could have
            been several kilometers off. several hundred small new islands
            added.
- NO DIFF:  NE_10M_REEFS.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GLACIATED_AREAS - Donut holes in large glaciers are
            now punched thru rather than being duplicate polygons. Clipped to
            new land shape. May miss a few sliver polygons between ice and
            coastline. Fixed topology errors. Includes densified vertex along 
            lines to allow smooth projection into conics. Fixes: 1EH6NRTJ6P.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ANTARCTIC_ICE_SHELVES_POLYS - Densified vertex
            along lines to allow smooth projection into conics. Fixed topology
            errors. Remade columns (fieldnames).
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_ANTARCTIC_ICE_SHELVES_LINES - Densified vertex
            along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_ALL - Includes new coastline, fixes
            topology errors and vertex densification, see below. 
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_0 - Better matches modern satellite
            imagery to zoom 8-ish. The earlier coastline could have been several
            kilometers off. several large new islands added. topology errors
            repaired. Includes densified vertex along lines to allow smooth 
            projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_200 - Topology errors repaired. Includes densified 
			vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_1000 - Topology errors repaired. Includes densified 
			vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_2000 - Topology errors repaired. Includes densified 
			vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- WAITING:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_3000 - Still needs further fixes. Includes densified 
			vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- WAITING:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_4000 - Still needs further fixes. Includes densified 
			vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- WAITING:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_5000 - Still needs further fixes. Includes densified 
			vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_6000 - Topology errors repaire. Includes densified 
			vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- WAITING:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_7000 - Still needs further fixes.
- WAITING:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_8000 - Still needs further fixes.
- WAITING:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_9000 - Still needs further fixes.
- WAITING:  NE_10M_BATHYMETRY_10000 - Still needs further fixes.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GEOGRAPHIC_LINES - New int'l date line, thanks
            Alex! Also densified linework for smoother projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GRATICULES_ALL - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GRATICULES_1 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GRATICULES_5 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GRATICULES_10 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GRATICULES_15 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GRATICULES_20 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_GRATICULES_30 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_WGS84_BOUNDING_BOX - Densified vertex along lines
            to allow smooth projection into conics.

10M RASTERS

- UPDATED:  HYP_HR_SR_W_DR_OCEAN - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_LR_SR_W_DR_OCEAN - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_HR_SR_W_DR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_LR_SR_W_DR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_HR_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_LR_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_HR_SR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_LR_SR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE1_LR_LC_SR_W_DR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE1_LR_LC_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE1_LR_LC_SR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- NO DIFF:  NE1_LR_LC.
- UPDATED:  NE1_HR_LC_SR_W_DR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE1_HR_LC_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE1_HR_LC_SR, new embedded shaded relief.
- NO DIFF:  NE1_HR_LC.
- UPDATED:  NE2_LR_LC_SR_W_DR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE2_LR_LC_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE2_LR_LC_SR, new embedded shaded relief.
- NO DIFF:  NE2_LR_LC.
- UPDATED:  NE2_HR_LC_SR_W_DR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE2_HR_LC_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE2_HR_LC_SR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- NO DIFF:  NE2_HR_LC.
- NO DIFF:  NE_10M_OCEAN_BOTTOM_OB_LR.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_SHADED_RELIEF_SR_HR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE_10M_SHADED_RELIEF_SR_LR - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_HR_SR_OB_DR - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_HR_SR_OB - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_HR_SR_W - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_HR_SR - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_LR_SR_OB_DR - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_LR_SR_OB - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_LR_SR_W - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_LR_SR - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.

50M CULTURAL

- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_COUNTRIES - See changelog for ne_50m_admin_0_scale_ranks.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_SOVEREIGNTY - See changelog for ne_50m_admin_0_scale_ranks.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_MAP_UNITS - See changelog for ne_50m_admin_0_scale_ranks.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_MAP_SUBUNITS - See changelog for ne_50m_admin_0_scale_ranks.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_SCALE_RANKS - Fixes topology errors, uses
            updated admin-0 details, new lake in sweden is no longer punched
            out (was part of ocean). Densified vertex along lines to allow smooth
            projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_TINY_COUNTRIES - Updated admin-0 details.
- **NEW**:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_TINY_COUNTRIES_SCALE_RANK - To ease final admin-0 details.
            Added Caribbean Netherlands, Macao, and Hong Kong.
- NO DIFF:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_MAP_UNITS. 
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_LINES_LAND - A additional coding
            to allow official US gov't view of same. better disputed coding, in
            alignment with 10m file Kosovo, etc). Densified vertex along lines
            to allow smooth projection into conics. Fixes: N96NSYPAPV.
- NO DIFF:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_LINES_MARITIME_INDICATOR.
- NO DIFF:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_PACIFIC_GROUPINGS.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_BREAKAWAY_DISPUTED_AREAS - Filename change.
            minor updates to alignment of boundary lines, additional coding to
            allow official US gov't view of same. better disputed coding.
            Densified vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
            Fixes: N96NSYPAPV.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_LINES_DISPUTED_AREAS - Filename
            change. minor updates to alignment of boundary lines, additional
            coding to allow official US gov't view of same. Better disputed
            coding. Densified vertex along lines to allow smooth projection into
            conics. Fixes: N96NSYPAPV.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_SHP - Added some new ISO
            coding, other minor changes. Fixes topology errors. Adds admin-1 for
            brazil and australia. Uses same coding as 10m files. Derived from
            new scale rank version.
- **NEW**:  NE_50M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_SHP_SCALE_RANK - Added a
            version for data linking ease in future revisions.
- **NEW**:  NE_50M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_LAKES_SHP - Added new
            version that punches out large lakes, based on lakes of scalerank = 0.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_LINES_SHP - Filename
            change to remove plural from scale rank. Fixes topology errors. adds
            more columns for selection based on 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_POPULATED_PLACES - Now auto generated from the
            ne_10m_populated_places file, see that changelog.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_POPULATED_PLACES_SIMPLE - Now auto generated from
            the ne_10m_populated_places file, see that changelog.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_URBAN_AREA - Added detailed scale ranks based on
            new coding of 10m file.
- **NEW**:  NE_50M_AIRPORTS - Now auto generated from the ne_10m_airports file.
- **NEW**:  NE_50M_PORTS - Now auto generated from the ne_10m_ports file.

50M_PHYSICAL

- UPDATED:  NE_50M_RIVERS_LAKE_CENTERLINES - Added lake to baltic
            connector in Sweden. name1 have been changed to name, name to name,
            name2 to name_alt. Fixes 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_RIVERS_LAKE_CENTERLINES_SCALE_RANKS - Added lake to
            baltic connector in Sweden. name1 have been changed to name, name to
            name, name2 to name_alt. Fixes 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_LAKES - Moved lake in Sweden here instead of ocean.
            name1 have been changed to name, name to name, name2 to name_alt.
            fixes 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_LAKES_HISTORIC - name1 have been changed to name,
            name to name, name2 to name_alt. Updated scaleranks. Fixes
            4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_PLAYAS - name1 have been changed to name, name to
            name, name2 to name_alt. Fixes 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_POLYS - Now auto generated from
            the 10m version. Now includes major lake groupings (Great Lakes,
            Finger Lakes, etc) moved from lake theme.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_POINTS - Now auto generated from the 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_ELEVATION_POINTS - Now auto
            generated from the 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GEOGRAPHY_MARINE_POLYS - Now auto generated from the 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_LAND - name1 have been changed to name, name to
            name, name2 was removed. Removed lake near Stockholm, Sweden. Fixes
            4VA9P9UGQE. Densified vertex along lines to allow smooth projection
            into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_OCEAN - name1 have been changed to name, name to
            name, name2 was removed. Removed lake near Stockholm, Sweden. Fixes
            4VA9P9UGQE. Densified vertex along lines to allow smooth projection
            into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_COASTLINE - Removed lake near Stockholm, Sweden.
- NO DIFF:  NE_50M_GLACIATED_AREAS.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ANTARCTIC_ICE_SHELVES_POLYS - Densified vertex along lines 
			to allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_ANTARCTIC_ICE_SHELVES_LINES - Densified vertex along lines 
			to allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GEOGRAPHIC_LINES - New int'l date line, thanks Alex! Also 
            densified linework for smoother projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GRATICULES_ALL - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GRATICULES_1 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GRATICULES_5 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GRATICULES_10 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GRATICULES_15 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GRATICULES_20 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_GRATICULES_30 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_WGS84_BOUNDING_BOX - Densified vertex along lines
            to allow smooth projection into conics.

50M RASTER

- UPDATED:  HYP_50M_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  HYP_50M_SR - New embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE1_50M_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE1_50M_SR - New embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE2_50M_SR_W - New water areas, new embedded shaded relief.
- UPDATED:  NE2_50M_SR - New embedded shaded relief.
- NO DIFF:  NE_50M_OCEAN_BOTTOM_OB_50M.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_BATHYMETRY_BATHY_50M - New water areas.
- UPDATED:  NE_50M_SHADED_RELIEF_SR_50M - New embedded shaded relief.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_50M_SR - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints. 
            Final files use ALL CAPS names, release candidates didn't.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_50M_SR_W - Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
            Final files use ALL CAPS names, release candidates didn't.
- **NEW**:  GRAY_50M_SR_OB  Special greyscale relief + hypsometric tints.
            Final files use ALL CAPS names, release candidates didn't.

110M CULTURAL

- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_0_COUNTRIES - Fixes topology errors, uses updated details.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_0_SOVEREIGNTY - Fixes topology errors, uses updated details.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_0_MAP_UNITS - Fixes topology errors, uses updated details.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_0_SCALE_RANKS - Fixes topology errors, uses updated details.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_0_TINY_COUNTRIES - Fixes topology errors,
            uses updated admin-0 details.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_0_BOUNDARY_LINES_LAND - A additional coding
            to allow official US gov't view of same. added disputed codings
            (Kosovo, etc). More consistent with 10m file now. Added missing
            Chile, Peru boundary, thanks Brody!
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_0_PACIFIC_GROUPINGs - Densified vertex along
            lines to allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_SHP - Added some new ISO
            coding, other minor changes. Fixes topology errors. Uses same coding
            as 10m files. Derived from new scale rank version.
- **NEW**:  NE_110M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_SHP_SCALE_RANK - Added a
            version for data linking ease in future revisions.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_ADMIN_1_STATES_PROVINCES_LINES_SHP - Filename
            change to remove plural from scale rank. Fixes topology errors. Adds
            more columns for selection based on 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_POPULATED_PLACES - Now auto generated from the
            ne_10m_populated_places file, see that changelog.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_POPULATED_PLACES_SIMPLE - Now auto generated from
            the ne_10m_populated_places file, see that changelog.

110M_PHYSICAL

- UPDATED:  NE_110M_RIVERS_LAKE_CENTERLINES - name1 have been changed
            to name, name to name, name2 to name_alt. Fixes 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_LAKES - Deleted Caspian Sea (already represented
            in the 110m ocean theme). name1 have been changed to name, name to
            name, name2 to name_alt. Fixes STRJ4AN2LH, 4VA9P9UGQE.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_POLYS - Now auto generated from
            the 10m version. Now includes major lake groupings (Great Lakes) 
            moved from lake theme.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_POINTS - Now auto generated from 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GEOGRAPHY_REGIONS_ELEVATION_POINTS - Now auto
            generated from the 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GEOGRAPHY_MARINE_POLYS - Now auto generated from the 10m version.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_LAND - Fixed topology.
- NO DIFF:  NE_110M_OCEAN.
- NO DIFF:  NE_110M_COASTLINE.
- NO DIFF:  NE_110M_GLACIATED_AREAS.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GEOGRAPHIC_LINES - New int'l date line, thanks
            Alex! Also densified linework for smoother projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GRATICULES_ALL - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GRATICULES_1 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GRATICULES_5 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GRATICULES_10 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GRATICULES_15 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GRATICULES_20 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED:  NE_110M_GRATICULES_30 - Densified vertex along lines to
            allow smooth projection into conics.
- UPDATED   NE_110M_WGS84_BOUNDING_BOX  densified vertex along lines
            to allow smooth projection into conics.

2011-08-19: 1.4.0
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/natural-earth-version-1-4-release-notes/

- NOTE:     Over 65 files have changed in version 1.4 of Natural Earth.
- NEW:      Sovereign country of South Sudan independence on July 2011.
- CHANGED:  South Sudan and Sudan's administrative level-1 units have also been refreshed.
- NOTE:     The disputed Sudan and South Sudan area of Abyei is retained.
- NEW:      Panama and Papua New Guinea back to separate countries. They were accidentally
            merged into a super country in some admin-0 files for the 1.3.0 release.
- NEW:      50m admin-1 states and provinces now includes version with lakes punched out.
- NEW:      The 10m admin-1 file now includes a “scale rank” exploded version.
- CHANGED:  A lake south of Kaunas on the Nemunas river has been recoded as an artificial 
            reservoir named “Kauno marios”. 
- CHANGED:  Rivers, 10m - Database structure changes: Name1 is now Name, Name2 is now 
            Name_alt Attribute changes: Several dozen missing strokes weights were 
            corrected, 1/2 dozen scaleRanks. One new mystery river segment.
- CHANGED:  1. The stream marked as the Parana in Argentina has been renamed: the lower 
            stretch is the lower portion of the remains Parana, then the Paraguay upstream 
            from the confluence of the Paraguay and Parana. Then Cuiaba upstream from its 
            confluence with the Paraguay, on up to the source.
- CHANGED:  The Angara, a tributary of the Yenisey river, in Russia was at a scale rank 2 
            while it’s parent was scale rank 4.
- CHANGED:  Upper section of the James River is the Cowpasture River.
- CHANGED:  South Branch of the Potomac, near its source, edited to add wiggle that 
            matches National Atlas.
- CHANGED:  La Grand Riviere in Canada name fix.
- CHANGED:  RivNum 22874 renamed Pahsimeroi river
- CHANGED:  The Palouse river headwaters extended to Idaho
- CHANGED:  The Grand Ronde is likewise shorter than National Atlas suggests, starting a 
            bit farther south than marked.
- CHANGED:  Similkameen river edited to match with the 10m Admin-1 vectors and branch off 
            from the Okanogan at Oroville, WA, and then proceed west & north into Canada, 
            where it remains.
- CHANGED:  Where the Snake River joins the Columbia River, part of the path of the 
            Columbia was marked as the Snake.
- CHANGED:  Sweden river funk: ‘Dallven’ instead of the correct ‘Dalälven‘. A few others 
            like that, need more clarification. via Graham Asher
- CHANGED:  IJssel river in Netherlands was incorrectly named Irrawaddy via Nathaniel
- NEW:      North America Rivers supplement - Database structure changes: Name1 is now 
            Name, Name2 is now Name_alt Removed River, abbreviated Creek, North, South, 
            East, West, Branch, etc. in the Name column to make consistent with the basic
            Rivers theme. Preserved the original in Name_full.
- CHANGED:  River names in U.S. desert south west. via Daniel Huffman, below:
- CHANGED:  The Marias River, a tributary of the Missouri in Montana, is listed as the 
            “Marais” in the Natural Earth dataset.
- CHANGED:  Upper portion of the stream marked as the “Maury River” (tributary to the 
            James in Virginia) is the Calfpasure River, which joins the Little Calfpasture
            River a bit southeast of Goshen to form the Maury.
- CHANGED:  Rivnum 23000 is the San Pedro River. The Natural Earth line appears to give a
            source just inside the US, but the National Atlas line has a source in Mexico.
- CHANGED:  Rivnum 22432 is San Cristobal Wash.
- CHANGED:  Rivnum 22467 is Centennial Wash
- CHANGED:  Rivnum 22474 is the Hassayampa River, headwaters extended north.
- CHANGED:  Rivnum 22435 is San Simon Creek.
- CHANGED:  Rivernum 22453 & 22997 appear to correspond to the Santa Cruz River. Renamed
            and extended headwaters south and cut the northern section so it drains to 
            flats instead of the Gila river.
- CHANGED:  22525 is Santa Maria River & Sycamore Creek
- CHANGED:  22534 is Big Sandy River
- CHANGED:  22550 is Trout Creek
- CHANGED:  22676 is Meadow Valley Wash
- CHANGED:  22533 is Carrizo Creek & Carrizo Wash
- CHANGED:  22506 is Largo Creek
- CHANGED:  22549 is Puerco River
- CHANGED:  22596 is Chinle Creek & Chinle Wash
- CHANGED:  22584 is Chaco River & Chaco Wash
- NEW:      Europe rivers supplement Database structure changes: Name1 is now Name, Name2
            is now Name_alt
- CHANGED:  Marine label areas - Now includes French names for most features. Corrections
            for Helodranon’ Antongila to Antongila Bay. Karskiye Vorota Strait looses
            Vorota as that already means Straight.
- CHANGED:  Graticules at 10m, 50m, 110m now have reasonable ScaleRank values.
- CHANGED:  Geographic lines at 10m, 50m, and 110m demotes the pre 1995 date line segment
            down to 100, giving Null Island company. Display column has been removed, Name
            column added with shorter version of the old Display name. Name_Long contains
            that former column, but renamed in keeping with current Natural Earth 
            practices. Also, Abbrev column added for short names. Note now contains the 
            “1995 Kiribati adjustment” and the like, including: “Any given day starts here
            and progresses west, with yesterday nipping at its heals.” And a FeatureClass
            column to bring into alignment with Natural Earth current practices.
- CHANGED:  The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands were missing the words
            South Sandwich.
- NEW:      Sint Maarten is a adm_0 country.
- CHANGED:  Admin-0 maritime boundaries, 10m - Corrected the maritime boundary between
            Maine and New Brunswick. 
- CHANGED:  Admin-1 polygons and lines, 10m - Small portion of the Rhode 
            Island/Massachusetts boundary was missing in the NEV databases. The portion
            in question was the part of Rhode Island that lies on the mainland, just east 
            of the Sakonnet River and the city of Newport, and just south of Fall 
            River, MA.
- CHANGED:  All US state boundary fixes: R.I.-Mass., Va.-N.C. now bends south in the 
            middle., Del.-Penn. boundary bends differently., Tenn.-Ala.-Ga.-Miss., 
            Kan.-Col., Neb.-Co., Neb.-Wy., S.D.-Wy., S.D.-Mont., N.D.-Mont., Iowa-Mo., 
            Modify the DC shape a bit to better match more detailed zooms and remove part
            of the adm-1 line on the shore.
- CHANGED:  The ADM1NAME Ãstfold corrected to Østfold.
- CHANGED:  Zhejiang – Should be labeled as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Is part of
            Australia. RENAMED Niue – Is not part of Australia, but independent. 
            Associated with New Zealand. DELETED as admin-1 units are not shown for small
            countries. Kerguelen Islands are part of France DELETED as admin-1 units are
            not shown for small countries.
- CHANGED:  Niassa Province in Mozambique is incorrectly spelled as ‘Nassa’. ‘Niassa’ is
            there as a varname, but the province has never been called ‘Nassa’.
- CHANGED:  Populated places (10m, 50m and 110m) - Norwegian cities, in whole related to
            the special characters æ, ø and å. The following corrections should be made: 
            Baerum -> Bærum, Svolvaer -> Svolvær, Tonsberg -> Tønsberg and 
            Vadso -> Vadsø.
- CHANGED:  Baguio City in the Philippines is still the defacto summer location of the 
            supreme court (judiciary branch of government), a similar situation as Chile
            and a couple other countries, but is now coded as “Admin-0 cap alt”. However, 
            Quezon City and Pasay City are downgraded from Admin-0 capital alt to 
            “Populated place” as the recent constitution states that the entire admin-1 
            unit of Manila is the national capital and they fall inside that feature. 
- CHANGED:  The place name Wiener Neustadt in Austria (that is the proper name of the 
            city) had the wrong NAME attribute “Wiener”.
- CHANGED:  Across the Mekong from Nakhon Phanom (Thailand), Natural Earth has a 
            settlement marked “Khammouan” in Laos. Khammouan(e) is the name of a province.
            The actual city across the river appears to be the capital of said province,
            Thakhek.
- CHANGED:  San Carlos moved east out of Lake Nicaragua.
- CHANGED:  Primarily in Iran, Egypt, and Lebanon. “Name in NEV” >> “Should be”: 
            Dayr az Zawr >> Dayr az Azwr, Khoramabad >> Khorramabad, 
            Shahr E Kord >> Shar e Kord, Zagizig >> Zagazig, Damanhr >> Damanhur, 
            Nabatiyet et Tahta >> Nabatiye et Tahta
- CHANGED:  Greeneville, NC should be Greenville, NC
- CHANGED:  Two point features labeled Bayankhongor in Mongolia. Kept the ’southern’ 
            point, delete the northern one. Southern feature featureType changed to 
            “Admin-1 cap”. 


2011-01-31: 1.3.0
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/natural-earth-version-1-3-release-notes/

- Almost 10 new files or packages have been introduced in this release. 
- The majority of files (171 out of 197) have changed with minor to large edits.
- Unless otherwise noted: Topology and extent (vector) or georeferencing (raster) changes.
- NEW:      Natural Earth quick start kit provides small sample of the themes styled in
            an ArcMap .MXD document (read more at the Esri Mapping Center soon) 
            and in a QGIS document.
- CHANGED:  Added 4 versions of Cross Blended Hypso without Shaded Relief from 1.2.1 release
- CHANGED:  All TIFs are now GeoTIFs with projection and cell size, registration points baked in. 
- CHANGED:  All TIFs a Readme files have been added to all. 
- CHANGED:  All TIFs a few files that had .tfw.txt are now just .tfw.
- CHANGED:  All TIFs a few corrupt header files have been fixed. 
- CHANGED:  Lakes - added Puma Yumco lake in Tibet on the Chinese border with Bhutan.
- NEW:      Pluvial 10m lake theme for prehistoric water bodies starting with the Great 
            Basin area of the United States and can grow to include more features.
- CHANGED:  Historic lakes include a more precise Aral Sea and now includes Lake Texcoco 
            at Mexico City, circa 1500. 
- CHANGED:  Modified river and lake center lines and scale ranks for 10m North 
            America supplement.
- CHANGED:  Modified river and lake center lines and scale ranks for 10m Europe 
            river supplement. 
- CHANGED:  Many corrections in the 10m Rivers theme.
- CHANGED:  Land label areas now clip North America, Europe, and Asia to 50 km to 
            shoreline to promote more realistic auto labeling. Other changes.
- CHANGED:  Label points and elevation points changed.
- CHANGED:  Geographic lines: Added new Kiribati date line extension (and clipped to ±180 
            ±90 bounding box).
- CHANGED:  Parks: Two new U.S. National Park Service units added as the system expands 
            to 384 total. Data fields updated so Name can be used for labels and UnitName
            is the official park name.
- CHANGED:  Populated places: Fix handful of city issues in all scales.             
- NEW:      New countries: The Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in October 2010 and two 
            new countries (Sint Maarten and Curaçao) were created out of part of the 
            former territory, with the remaining islands devolved back to Netherlands as 
            top-level, overseas administrative units of that country. Aruba remains a 
            country.
- WARNING:  A troubleshooting country has been added with an Indeterminate sovereignty 
            class called Null Island
- NEW:      New map units: New United Kingdom subdivisions for England, Scotland, Wales, 
            Northern Ireland in 110m to match the 50m and 10m versions. 
- CHANGED:  Pacific grouping lines adjusted to snap to 1° increments. The 110m version 
            receives the same PacGroup column as the 50m version.
- CHANGED:  Tiny countries: Ascension island moved to correct location nearer Africa north 
            of St. Helena from erroneous position on South Georgia I. in 50m and 110m 
            files. Adm0_A3 codes adjusted and moved to their own self titled column.
- CHANGED:  Other admin_0 housekeeping and improvements.
- CHANGED:  Added and revised some adm-0 maritime indicator lines. Moved Aland land 
            boundary line to maritime indicator (and added one between Aland and mainland)
- CHANGED:  Admin-1 all scales now include Abbreviation (US, Canada, partial UK) and 
            shorter 2 to 3 digit “postal” codes to ease labeling (US, Canada, Mexico, 
            Australia. Guessed at rest based on HASC/ISO codes). 
- CHANGED:  Admin-1 there is some indication provided when to alternate these based on 
            labelRank and scaleRank. 
- CHANGED:  Admin01 region coding has also been provided for UK and US, could expand in 
            the future (address inconsistency in France and Italy in particular where 
            Natural Earth continues to show admin 1 regions rather than departments).
- CHANGED:  States and provinces (both polygons and lines) now have correct ADM0_A3 codes 
            and use the same MAP_COLOR column as the adm-0 in all scale sets. 
- NEW:      Due to popular demand, a new supplementary version of the adm_1 polygons are 
            provided with large lakes erased 
- CHANGED:  Added SameAsCity column to indicate if the label should be placed only at a 
            certain natural scale since the adm-1 name is the same (or very similar) to 
            the adm-1 capital populated place point label. 
- CHANGED:  Added scale ranking to adm-1 lines so they can appear in tandem with the polys.
- CHANGED:  Countries with notable admin-1 changes: Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, 
            Belgium, Bhutan, China, Croatia, Congo, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Ethiopia, 
            Fiji, Finland, Germany, Israel, Guinea, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, 
            Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New 
            Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Cyprus, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paupa New Guinea, 
            Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon 
            Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tanzania, 
            Trinidad, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, 
            Vietnam, Yemen
- CHANGED:  Merge sliver polygons and island polys with their larger parent polygon: 
            Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Greece, Haiti, 
            Ireland, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Russia, Slovenia, Slovenia, Spain
- REMOVED:  Deletions on a country basis: Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Northern Cyprus, 
            Martinique and French Guiana arrondissements merged.
- ADDED:    Added missing adm-1 lines: Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel, Mexico, 
            Rwanda, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Yemen
- REMOVED:  Removed adm-1 lines: Guinea, Iraq, Martinique and French Guiana, Nigeria, Others
- ADDED:    Added many adm-1 maritme indicators as new “Adm-1 boundary water indicator” 
            feature class: Croatia, Denmark, Netherlands, Multiple other countries, 
            Southeast Asia island nations (Indonesia and Philippines in particular) 
            remain outstanding., 
- CHANGED:  Adm-1 gaps: Closed a few inside polygon “donut holes” adm_1 lines that didn’t 
            have coincidental start-end points: Germany to Mongolia, Panama to Australia 
            and Yemen. Ethiopia. Taiwan. Others.


2010-10-25: 1.2.1
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/miscellaneous/new-cross-blended-hypso-without-shaded-relief/

- NEW:      Added Cross Blended Hypso without Shaded Relief


2010-05-25: 1.2.0
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/miscellaneous/natural-earth-version-1-2-release-notes/

- NEW:      Supplementary hydrography rivers in North America (4x number of 1.1 rivers) 
            via CEC North American Environmental Atlas (CEC NAEA).
- NEW:      Supplementary hydrography lakes in North America (4x number of 1.1 rivers) 
            via CEC NAEA.
- NEW:      Supplementary hydrography rivers in Europe (4x number of 1.1 rivers) 
            via European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC)
- NEW:      Supplementary hydrography lakes in Europe (4x number of 1.1 rivers) 
            via EC JRC
- NEW:      Roads in North America via CEC NAEA.
- NEW:      Railroads in North America via CEC NAEA.
- NEW:      Supplementary roads in North America via XNR Productions.


2010-03-15: 1.1.1
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/miscellaneous/version-1-1-release-notes/

- NEW:      Corrects the name of the 50m cultural `50m_admin_0_countries` file by adding the missing `r`.


2010-03-01: 1.1.0
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/miscellaneous/version-1-1-release-notes/

- NEW:      National Parks for the United States of America.
- NEW:      Landscan urban polygons (masks for population extraction out of original
            LandScan data). 
- REMOVED:  admin 0 marine boundary lines. The indicator lines are still there.
- CHANGED:  10m, 50m, 110m populated places new towns being added, 30m selection created, 
            various corrections, now include geonames.org IDs, bounding boxes from the 
            landscan data, and historical populations for 500 mega cities.
- NEW:      10m, 50m, 110m populated places - As this triples the file size, a new 
            “simple” version is also available with the updates, but not the full 
            attributes.
- CHANGED:  50m and 110m Admin 0 and admin-1 get better country names and thematic codes, 
            including slight reranking of some units and link out to the Correlates of War
            database (cShapes).
- CHANGED:  50m and 110m Admin 0 and admin-1 in 10m are rebuilt to fix coastline offset 
            and overlaps and gaps between countries and state/province lines.
- CHANGED:  10m, 50m, 110m Geographic label points for peaks and summits. Now spun off 
            into separate feature class.
- CHANGED:  110m country boundaries, missing countries, added missing mid-range islands. 
            Includes Caspian sea and admin-0 scale ranks.
- CHANGED:  All files names now use “_” underscore instead of “-” in filename for better 
            compatibility with ArcMap.
- CHANGED:  Handful of file name changes for consistency.
- CHANGED:  10m Rivers and lakes. A couple names, fixed the scaleRanks to show as integers 
            rather than strings.
- CHANGED:  10m, 50m Updated the geographic areas marine names (Indonesia straight).
- CHANGED:  10m, 50m Updated the geographic areas polys names (Seward Penn, Alaska).
- CHANGED:  10m coastline updates for Venice. Same for land and ocean.
- CHANGED:  10m bathymetry updates for several island mounts.
- CHANGED:  10m Antarctic ice shelves, now includes ice shelf names.
- CHANGED:  10m glaciated areas: names cleaned up, feature class column filled in.
- CHANGED:  10m, 50m, 110m WGS84 bounding box has more point to aid in reprojecting as a 
            linearized curve.
- CHANGED:  Fixed TWF extent on the raster imagery to improve import into popular open 
            source GIS packages.
- CHANGED:  50m ocean can now project into web Mercator.
- CHANGED:  110m all cultural and most physical themes now inside the +/- 180, +/- 90
            bounding box.


2010-01-09: 1.0.1
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/miscellaneous/raster-imagery-1-0-1-released/

- CHANGE:   The 10m raster data now fits perfectly within the ±180, ±90 bounding box.
- CHANGE:   The 50m raster data now fits perfectly within the ±180, ±90 bounding box.
- CHANGE:   The 10m raster data TFW files are updated.
- CHANGE:   The 50m raster data TFW files are updated.


2009-12-02: 1.0.0
- Full details: http://www.naturalearthdata.com/blog/miscellaneous/let-the-downloads-begin/

- NEW:      Initial release!


2009-10-00: 0.0.0
- NOTE:     Announced and demo'd at NACIS mapping conference in Sacramento, CA