# Welikia Project

> mapping project by the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City

**Wikidata**: [Q110624508](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110624508)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannahatta_Project)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/welikia-project

## Summary
The Welikia Project is a mapping project and website operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City. Originally launched in 1999 as the Mannahatta Project, it uses a historical geographic information system to create a digital map depicting New York City as it appeared in 1609. The project provides historical geodata and analysis under the direction of Eric W. Sanderson.

## Key Facts
- **Also Known As:** Mannahatta Project (title used from 1999 to 2009).
- **Operator:** Owned by and a facet of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
- **Inception:** 1999.
- **Director/Manager:** Eric W. Sanderson.
- **Primary Technology:** Historical geographic information system (GIS).
- **Target Year Depicted:** 1609.
- **Project Goals:** To produce a digital map, historical data, and historical geodata.
- **Current Title:** Welikia Project (name adopted in 2010).
- **Website:** https://welikia.org (English).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the difference between the Mannahatta Project and the Welikia Project?
A: They are the same initiative, simply at different stages of its timeline. The project was titled the "Mannahatta Project" from its inception in 1999 until 2009. In 2010, it was renamed the "Welikia Project."

### Q: What specific time period does the project depict?
A: The project focuses on generating data and maps that depict the landscape of New York City specifically in the year 1609.

### Q: Who manages the Welikia Project?
A: The project is owned by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Eric W. Sanderson serves as the director and manager of the initiative.

## Why It Matters
The Welikia Project serves as a significant bridge between modern technology and pre-urban history. By utilizing historical geographic information systems (GIS), the project reconstructs the ecological past of one of the world's most developed cities. This allows researchers, students, and the public to visualize the environment of New York City as it existed in 1609, prior to extensive urbanization.

The project's evolution from the "Mannahatta Project" to "Welikia" marks an expansion of scope and continued commitment by the Wildlife Conservation Society to understand the historical ecology of the region. It provides a unique baseline of historical geodata that informs current conservation efforts and urban planning, demonstrating how digital mapping can recover lost landscapes.

## Notable For
- **Historical Reconstruction:** Digitally reconstructing the ecology and geography of New York City in 1609.
- **Technological Application:** Utilizing historical geographic information systems for ecological mapping.
- **Organizational Home:** Being a major digital initiative operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
- **Name Evolution:** Transitioning from the specific focus of the "Mannahatta Project" to the broader "Welikia Project" in 2010.

## Body

### Origins and Timeline
The project was established in 1999 under the title **Mannahatta Project**. This phase of the initiative lasted exactly one decade, concluding in 2009. In **2010**, the project was rebranded and continued under the name **Welikia Project**. The initiative is a mapping project presented in the form of a website accessible at `https://welikia.org`.

### Goals and Methodology
The core objective of the Welikia Project is the creation and distribution of **historical geodata**. To achieve this, the project employs a **historical geographic information system**. This technology is used to process historical data and generate a **digital map** that visualizes the region. The project specifically aims to depict the environment of New York City as it existed in the year **1609**.

### Leadership and Organization
The Welikia Project is a facet of the **Wildlife Conservation Society**, which serves as the owner and parent organization. The project is managed by **Eric W. Sanderson**. The English-language website serves as the primary public interface for the project's data and findings.