A special edition of National Geographic this month with a focus on the BP Oil Spill.

  This edition also includes a Special map supplement in magazine describes Gulf ecosystem and reveals region’s complete oil infrastructure. From National Geographic…

The Sept. 2 explosion of the Mariner Energy offshore oil platform 100 miles south of Louisiana is a reminder that the Gulf remains vulnerable to accidents on the nearly 3,500 drilling platforms in operation there today. National Geographic offers objective, big-picture context, laying out the factors at play in determining future developments for the region’s industry and the recovery of its natural resources, including a detailed map showing the vast oil infrastructure in the Gulf on one side and describing how the ecosystem of the Gulf works on the other. The map forms the basis of online curriculum that the National Geographic Society is offering free to K-12 teachers, to help them integrate learning about the Gulf into their classrooms: www.nationalgeographic.com/educator-resources/oil-spills/.

The print edition of the magazine is available on newsstands Tuesday, Sept. 28, and an e-version of the magazine will be available on iTunes on Friday, Oct. 1, including an interactive version of the map supplement. Sept. 28 also marks the National Geographic Channel premiere of two specials about the spill, “After the Spill: The Last Catch,” bringing viewers the personal stories of men and women in the fishing town of Venice, La., (9 p.m. ET/PT) and “Explorer: Can the Gulf Survive?”, illuminating the unfolding scientific story of the spill’s consequences — including never-before-seen footage of the BP control room when they kill the well. A third special, “Saved from the Spill,” about the ecological impact of the spill, will air on Nat Geo WILD on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

USeful resources:

• National Geographic networks investigate aftermath and continuing impact of oil spill with 3 specials, including ‘Explorer: Can the Gulf Survive?’ on Nat Geo Channel at 10 p.m. ET/PT Sept. 28 http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/4835/Overview
• Free curriculum tools help K-12 teachers explain consequences of spill http://www.nationalgeographic.com/educator-resources/oil-spills/
• Magazine includes new science about world’s fisheries and global fish consumption http://www.iamtheocean.org
• Check out the interactive MAP HERE