Stig Jaatinen · 1990
Editorial chairman Stig Jaatinen describes the fifth edition of the Atlas of Finland, planned from 1971, with compilation beginning in 1974 and the first folio, Forestry, appearing in 1977. Its planned 26 thematic folios were organized around physical environment; population, economy and communications; and society, culture and living conditions. Joint publication by the Geographical Society of Finland and the National Survey depended on state support, a small editorial staff and extensive institutional cooperation. Production shifted from manual techniques to automation, including Thematic FINGIS. Jaatinen emphasizes geographical analysis and synthesis, careful thematic classifications and independent editorial scrutiny of largely existing data. Examples include multiscale presentation of Quaternary deposits in Geology, regular diagram scales for comparing fish catches, and coordinated colours in Forestry and Biogeography, Nature Conservation. He also identifies publication delays, uneven detail, overloaded graphics, translation and text–image coordination problems, and reduced methodological coherence across numerous contributors. He judges the edition a strong foundation for regional information on Finland while insisting that technological development requires a coherent geographical philosophy.
