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        MAPS-L Subscribers:
 
        Geographers are generally best at naming, identifying, and
        delineating regions - whether physical, cultural, or economic. And,
        of course many are not always in total agreement and it is NO EASY
        TASK.  Just try describing the U.S. "South" to someone.  Recently I
        was contacted by a person from National Public Radio who later did
        a show about defining the Midwest (US).  Very interesting. However,
        other disciplines enter into the discussion of what defines a
        rgion.  Economists, geologists, ... have all had a stab at various
        and sundry region-naming and identification.  Librarians (sometimes
        geographers or geologists themselves) have attempted to define a
        region.  However, most practicing librarians consult tolls and then
        cite someones elses work for defing regions.  This latest
        discussion on MAPS-L shows real well this "problem."
 
        I learned the Mississippi Delta from a physical geography approach
        (Lobeck & Fenneman et al) It is best shown on an Erwin Raisz land-
        form map of the US.  The Mississippi Delta and/or Mississippi
        alluvial flood plain runs approximately from the St. Louis, MO area
        south, widening the further south ones moves.  It is interesting to
        hear about the Blues, USGS water-people, etc. definitions.  This
        discourse is more than mere fun.  Has anyone posted this to
        GEOGRAPH-L?
 
        Jim Minton
        University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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