Loading data for styling
In order to create pretty maps, we need some more data than the default layers packaged with GeoServer. We will use the freely available Natural Earth dataset. We already used a shapefile with administrative boundaries in Chapter 4, Adding Your Data.
Natural Earth provides several datasets in the shapefile format, packaged in three different reference scales. In the styles examples of this chapter, we will use a subset; you need to download the following datasets:
- http://www.naturalearthdata.com/http//www.naturalearthdata.com/download/50m/cultural/ne_50m_populated_places.zip
- http://www.naturalearthdata.com/http//www.naturalearthdata.com/download/50m/physical/ne_50m_rivers_lake_centerlines.zip
- http://www.naturalearthdata.com/http//www.naturalearthdata.com/download/10m/cultural/ne_10m_roads.zip
- http://www.naturalearthdata.com/http//www.naturalearthdata.com/download/10m/cultural/ne_10m_railroads.zip
Save all of them in the same folder you used for the administrative boundaries...