... Well, before finally selecting this globe, I looked at all the others, and this one had all the features one would expect in a comprehensive globe. I had purchased a Replogle World Nation Series globe 30 years ago, and it has held up great. I decided to buy a new one because of all the changes in geographic boundaries, and the many new countries that have emerged in the past 30 years. It shows major cities, raised relief mountains, ocean currents, color-coded countries and states, as well as a legend. Like most of their globes, it also comes with a plastic time zone dial over the north pole that enables you to calculate the time in other areas of the world. This globe also has another great feature, a gyroscopic component, which enables you to tilt the globe upside down without lifting its base, thus enabling you to see Antarctica in its entirety. With other lower-priced globes, you have to lift the globe, and the base obstructs your view of Antarctica. This globe is very well made, it has a hefty metal base, and the gyroscopic component is made of the same hefty metal as the base. They even included the much needed metal washer in-between where you screw the base into the gyroscopic component, this prevents you from over-tightening the screw, and prevents the base from coming loose. My last one did not have the necessary washer, so over time the base would become loose and would require re-tightening. I have seen other reviews in which some had given this globe only one star, because the equator was slightly peeled away upon delivery; Well, mine arrived with the equator perfectly affixed, and if the end of the tape ever peeled a little, you need only place a minute dot of glue on the edge, stick it back on, and problem solved.* The globe surface is also nice and glossy, and some have also stated that it will scratch easily; However, my previous (somewhat outdated) nearly 20 year old globe, that this one retired, was just as glossy. I would not recommend cleaning it with any liquids though, just use a slightly damp cloth, or a feather duster would be the better choice to clear away any dust. *UPDATE: Eventually, the blue equator tape became problematic and was subsequently removed. In retrospect, I believe the tape had more to do with covering the unsightly seam in the globe than identifying the equator - as if no one would know where it is otherwise! Naturally, no seam at all would have been ideal, with a 'permanent' inked equator instead, but of course that would have resulted in a higher-priced product. As a result of this update, I have downgraded my review to four stars, oh well ...
