Orfilio Peláez · 2019
The National Atlas: LX Anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution is Cuba's first atlas created exclusively by Cuban specialists in a digital multimedia format. Developed over five years with over 300 experts from 65 institutions, it systematically reflects profound changes in Cuba's economic, social, and natural spheres since the previous atlas in 1989. Structured into six sections—General and Reference Maps, Economy, Nature, Society, Strategic Themes, and History—it notably includes, for the first time, maps on the distribution and characterization of Cuban rock art. Innovations include advanced GIS and GPS technologies, with comprehensive coverage of protected areas, climate change, hazard/vulnerability/risk studies, biodiversity, watershed management, and demographic dynamics. Conceived as a 'living atlas' for continuous updates, it will feature mobile and online applications, with potential future print editions for schools and libraries, marking a milestone in Cuban cartographic publishing.
José Miguel Marrero Basulto; Jorge A. Luis Machín; Orlando Novúa Alvarez; Silvio V. Rodríguez Hernández; Saylí Tur Pérez · 2020
The compilers describe the production of Atlas Nacional de Cuba “LX Aniversario,” led by the Instituto de Geografía Tropical with GEOCUBA, CITMATEL and other Cuban institutions, involving more than 500 professionals and technicians. They identify it as Cuba’s first national atlas produced entirely by Cuban institutions and specialists and presented digitally. Its six sections cover general and reference maps, nature, population, economy, strategic topics and history. The account traces the workflow from base-map revision and expert review to standardized GIS maps, web conversion using TileMill and Leaflet, and multimedia assembly. Multimedia version 1.0, released in November 2019, contained 230 maps, 42 thematic texts, 220 photographs and 130 tables and charts. At the time of writing, version 1.1 was in final preparation with 240 maps and expanded supporting material; a geoportal version existed and a mobile application was under development. The compilers frame these updates as steps toward a continuously maintained “living atlas,” while acknowledging the need for technological, aesthetic and content improvements, particularly broader socioeconomic coverage.
José Manuel Mateo Rodriguez; Maira Celeiro Chaple; Pedro Acevedo Rodríguez; Dayniel Hernández Mestre; Alejandro Veranes Miranda · 2020
The authors explain the conceptual basis, compilation methods and content of the anthroponatural landscape, cultural landscape and geographic regionalization maps in the Nature Characterization section of Atlas Nacional de Cuba: LX Aniversario (2019), all at 1:1,000,000. Drawing on Sauer’s natural/cultural landscape conception and a systemic approach, they use regional and microregional descriptions, mapping and bibliographic analysis documented in the unpublished Regiones y Paisajes Geográficos de Cuba. Localities, or microregions, underpin their distinction between individual regional units and recurring landscape types. Compared with the 1989 atlas, the 2019 treatment separates anthroponatural and cultural landscapes and extends regionalization to include cultural appropriation of the natural environment.
The anthroponatural map combines relief, geology, lithology, vegetation, soils and geoecological factors in a revised classification covering plains, mountain systems and the insular shelf. Land use is addressed through the cultural landscape map, which classifies each locality by predominant uses, spatial organization, visual character and symbolic features into 11 main types with subtypes. The regionalization map presents a hierarchy ending in 73 regions and groups regions into 19 types using natural and cultural landscapes, resources, population, settlements and heritage value. The authors describe the maps as general scientific models offering holistic, field-based and multiscalar perspectives, and propose their use for environmental assessment and territorial planning. They recommend more detailed nationwide mapping and research into landscape structure, functioning and dynamics.
