GeoNames Forum

Just wondering how some of you account for geonames that basically have the same data. The below example shows two geoname entries that have the same name/asciiName (Port Heiden), fclass/fcode (P.PPL), countryCode (US), adminCodes (AK/Alaska), but only slightly different map coordinates.

Web Form:
http://www.geonames.org/search.html?q=Port+Heiden&country=US

Web Service:
http://ws.geonames.org/search?q=port+heiden&featureClass=P&featureCode=PPL&style=full

Why are there two entries that are basically the same? Shouldn't there only be one? How should I account for this, say for example, if I'm having the user of my web app select his location?

Many times when two places have the same or similar name they are really two different places.
In this case it looks as if the place in the middle of the bay is a duplicate. The data for Alaska is from the US Geological Survey and normally has rather could quality.

Best

Marc