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. 5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: extracting a geographically generic term from the geographic name included in the query; retrieving a synonym of the geographically generic term from an internal glossary; searching the memory for a candidate name which includes the synonym, the candidate name being one of the normalized the geographic feature names including the synonym; calculating a value of proximity between a string other than the synonym in the candidate name and a string other than the geographically generic term in the geographic name included in the query; and if the value of proximity is equal or larger than the predetermined value, outputting a geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name including the synonym and a location associated with the geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name including the synonym, wherein a location associated with the geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name including the synonym is identified on the map.