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THE COMPASS

Let's go to the movies! Discover where you can find 8 real-life "Fantastic Beasts," learn how "Jurassic Park" got almost everything wrong about an iconic dinosaur, and explore your favorite movie worlds through beautiful, hand-painted maps.

Peruvian blonde tarantula (Lasiodorides polycuspulatus) at the Great Plains Zoo.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK

8 real-life ‘Fantastic Beasts’ and where to find them

From a “talking” tarantula to a mole with a many-fingered snout, nature is full of creatures with magical abilities.

A "TALKING" TARANTULA??

A reconstruction shows an adult Dilophosaurus wetherilli tending to a clutch of hatching eggs.

ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN ENGH

'Jurassic Park' got almost everything wrong about this iconic dinosaur

New fossil discoveries and the most detailed analysis yet of Dilophosaurus have produced the first clear picture of what the crested dinosaur really looked like.

"THE BEST WORST-KNOWN DINOSAUR"

A scene from Star Wars where a Star Destroyer approaches the Death Star.

PHOTOGRAPH BY AF ARCHIVE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

The real science inspired by 'Star Wars'

From Darth Vader's breathing to the dual sunsets of Tatooine, we take a look back at the real studies inspired by the "Star Wars" universe.

INSPIRING THE FUTURE

THIS DESERT REGION PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN WESTERN MOVIES—AND OFFERS TRAVELERS CINEMATIC SCENERY AND COWBOY CULTURE. WHERE IS IT?

A. SPAIN
B. CHINA
C. USA

CLICK TO SEE IF YOU'RE RIGHT!

A photo of a collection of tools used by Foley artists.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANNIE MARTIN

See the bizarre tools that make a movie’s sound effects

From whips to pine cones, these items give sound designers the most realistic ‘Foley’ for their films.

ADDING CRUCIAL VALUE

FAMOUS MOVIE SITES

1.

8 places to visit if you love ‘Star Wars’

2.

Visit nine places from your favorite movies

3.

Where to travel if you’re obsessed with zombies

4.

Visit the African park that inspired ‘The Lion King’

PAID CONTENT FOR MAZDA

A photo of a man and woman in bee suits walking on a grassy path in an apiary.

Finding beauty in the details on the Olympic Peninsula

Nature is filled with breathtaking phenomena: A single glance at snow-capped mountains, lush forests, or the clear blue ocean is enough to make anyone appreciate nature’s creative power. Oftentimes, this beauty is hidden in the details—in the smallest elements of an ecosystem that only reveal themselves once you know where and how to look for them. Journey with chef Melissa King and Nat Geo Explorer and Photographer Anand Varma to uncover hidden wonders and stunning biodiversity along Washington’s Olympic Coast.

This detail from the Jurassic Park map shows the paths of characters traveling around the island in Jeeps.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW DEGRAFF

Explore your favorite movie worlds through beautiful, hand-painted maps

See the geography and plots of Star Wars, Princess Bride, Lord of the Rings and more laid out from start to finish on these hand-painted maps.

BUILDING "LITTLE WORLDS"

WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT?

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