function zoomToRegion(n, selectBoxValue) {	

			//data is stored in the regionArray. The data is pulled for the dropdown and stored
			//in the array so that it can be used to dynamically update the zoom for the map.
			//an integer is sent to this function and we grab the rest of the data from the array
			//based on the selection of that integer - selectBoxValue
			
			//n and selectBoxValue should be the same unless the user attempts to click
			//on an invalid region - then prompt the user - value passed is xx
	
	       //GLog.write("n: " + n + " , selectBoxValue: "+ selectBoxValue);
			var thisSelectedRegion = regionArray[1][n]
			var thisSelectedLongitude = regionArray[2][n]
			var thisSelectedLatitude = regionArray[3][n]
			var thisSelectedZoomFactor = regionArray[4][n]
			
			if (selectBoxValue == "xx") {
				alert("Please select a valid region to zoom to");
			}
			
			else {
				//zoom to region
				googleMap.setCenter(new GLatLng(thisSelectedLatitude, thisSelectedLongitude), 17-thisSelectedZoomFactor);
				//update text user sees in interface
				spanSelectedRegion.firstChild.nodeValue = thisSelectedRegion;
			}
}