1. A method, implemented at least in part by a computer, of searching for geographic information, the method comprising the steps of: loading a dictionary of geographic feature names and geographic feature types into a memory communicably connected with the computer, wherein the loading is performed by the computer; loading locations associated with the geographic feature names into the memory, wherein the loading is performed by the computer; creating phonetic representations of the geographic feature names by normalizing each of the geographic feature names, wherein the creating is performed by the computer; storing the normalized geographic feature names in the memory; receiving, at the computer, a query for searching for geographic information, the query including a geographic name; creating a phonetic representation of the geographic name by normalizing the geographic name included in the query, wherein the creating is performed by the computer; searching the memory for a candidate name to be compared with the geographic name included in the query, the candidate name being one of the normalized geographic feature names; calculating a value of proximity between the candidate name and the geographic name included in the query, wherein the calculating is performed by the computer; and if the value of proximity is equal or larger than a predetermined value, outputting a geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name and a location associated with the geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name.
1. A method, implemented at least in part by a computer, of searching for geographic information, the method comprising the steps of: loading a dictionary of geographic feature names and geographic feature types into a memory communicably connected with the computer, wherein the loading is performed by the computer; loading locations associated with the geographic feature names into the memory, wherein the loading is performed by the computer; creating phonetic representations of the geographic feature names by normalizing each of the geographic feature names, wherein the creating is performed by the computer; storing the normalized geographic feature names in the memory; receiving, at the computer, a query for searching for geographic information, the query including a geographic name; creating a phonetic representation of the geographic name by normalizing the geographic name included in the query, wherein the creating is performed by the computer; searching the memory for a candidate name to be compared with the geographic name included in the query, the candidate name being one of the normalized geographic feature names; calculating a value of proximity between the candidate name and the geographic name included in the query, wherein the calculating is performed by the computer; and if the value of proximity is equal or larger than a predetermined value, outputting a geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name and a location associated with the geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name. 2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of normalizing each of the geographic feature names comprises the steps of: replacing a diacritical character in each of the geographic feature names with a non-diacritical equivalent character, replacing a string in each of the geographic feature names with a phonetically normalized equivalent string, and removing a non-alphanumeric character in each geographic feature name, and wherein the step of normalizing the geographical name included in the query comprises the steps of replacing a diacritical character in the geographical name included in the query with a non-diacritical equivalent character, replacing a string in the name included in the query with a phonetically normalized equivalent string, and removing a non-alphanumeric character in the geographical name included in the query.