This is a documentation subpage for Template:Cite gnis. It may contain usage information, categories and other content that is not part of the original template page.

This template is used on approximately 29,000 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

This template is a Citation Style 1 specific-source template based on ((Cite encyclopedia)). For centralised Citation Style 1 discussions, see Help talk:Citation Style 1.

Wikidata has the properties:

• GNIS Feature ID (P590) (see uses)
• GNIS Antarctica ID (P804) (see uses)

This citation template is used to cite a Feature Detail Report from the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

A search engine can be found here.

((cite gnis
| type =
| id =
| name =
| access-date =
))

 
antarid or retired
feature ID (number)
feature name (text)
database access date
 

 
for Antarctic or retired features
required (1)
required (2)
recommended
 

• For Antarctic locations, specify |type=antarid.
• For features types retired in 2021, specify |type=retired.
• To disable links to the publisher, when the template is used multiple times in an article, use |links=off
• Template accepts all parameters accepted by ((cite encyclopedia)), e.g., |access-date= or |date=
• Positional (unnamed) parameters are interpreted as ((cite gnis|id|name|access-date|date))
• Some of the parameters are aliases for ((cite encyclopedia)), either form can be used:
  • |name= → |entry=
  • |date= → |access-date=

Note that latitude, longitude and elevation may be somewhat inaccurate. It is best to confirm this data by viewing the location on a map. If necessary use more reliable sources.

With named parameters and entry date

• ((cite gnis |id=269051 |name=Mount Whitney |date=January 19, 1981 |access-date=March 10, 2022))

  "Mount Whitney". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. January 19, 1981. Retrieved March 10, 2022.

With unnamed parameters and entry date

• ((cite gnis |269051 |Mount Whitney | |January 19, 1981))

  "Mount Whitney". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. January 19, 1981.

With unnamed parameters, access date and entry date

• ((cite gnis |269051 |Mount Whitney |December 20, 2020 |January 19,1981))

  "Mount Whitney". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. January 19, 1981. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

With named parameters and publisher links off

• ((cite gnis |id=269051 |name=Mount Whitney |access-date=December 20, 2020 |entry-date=19 January 1981 |links=off))

  "Mount Whitney". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 19 January 1981. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

Antarctic locations

• ((cite gnis |type=antarid |id=15152 |name=Mount Terror |date=January 1, 1947 |access-date=March 10, 2022))

  "Mount Terror". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. January 1, 1947. Retrieved March 10, 2022.

Retired locations

• ((cite gnis |type=retired |id=235365 |name=Stanford University |date=January 19, 1981 |access-date=February 12, 2023))

  "Stanford University". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. January 19, 1981. Retrieved February 12, 2023.

With all named parameters, Antarctic locations

• ((cite gnis |type=antarid |id=19152 |name=Raney Peak |entry-date=21 January 2008 |access-date=December 20, 2020 |links=off |ref=test))

  "Raney Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 21 January 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

• ((cite gnis2)) – For a CS2 format citation than includes a ((harvid)) identifier
• ((GNIS)), ((GNIS 2)), ((GNIS URL)), ((GNIS 4)) – for same external link in other formats
• ((GEOnet2)) and ((Cite gns)) – for links to non-U.S. geographic feature names from GEOnet Names Server
• ((Cite ngs)) – for links to U.S. National Geodetic Survey
• ((Cite gvp)) – for links to Global Volcanism Program
• ((Cite encyclopedia))