Wolf Tietze · 1982
This review assesses the fifth edition of the Atlas of Finland (Suomen Kartasto), published from 1977 by the National Board of Survey and the Geographical Society of Finland. It traces the atlas's origins to nearly two decades before Finnish independence and credits its early editions with presenting information about the Grand Principality and strengthening national identity. The reviewer praises its development, especially since Leo Aario's fourth edition, into a comprehensive regional-geographical reference. Hundreds of maps, statistics, and explanatory texts in Finnish, Swedish, and English combine broad coverage with standardized scales, symbols, and colours. The reviewer emphasizes their readability and interconnected content, whose full use requires sustained consultation. The fifth edition is presented as a continuing compilation of statistical-geographical knowledge, intended to underpin school geography materials and reach a wide public through booksellers and kiosks. The reviewer strongly endorses its educational aim of helping citizens, including political decision-makers, understand the challenges and limitations of physical, biological, and social environments.
St Helmfried · 1996
Helmfried describes the fifth edition of the Atlas of Finland as retaining the traditional scholarly atlas concept while broadening its coverage, particularly of social and cultural subjects. Jointly published by the Geographical Society and the state surveying authority, it comprises 26 thematic fascicles in three main subject groups, with parallel texts in three languages and varied cartographic forms. He notes that the large page format permits scales from 1:1 million to 1:16 million but makes the work somewhat unwieldy. Production was directed by Stig Jaatinen at the state surveying authority and financed by the state, with much scientific work contributed voluntarily. Helmfried credits the project with maintaining a consistent layout and cartographic design throughout its fifteen-year production period.
