D. H. K. Amiran; N. Kadmon · 1959
D. H. K. Amiran and N. Kadmon describe the compilation of the Atlas of Israel, published by the Survey of Israel and the Bialik Institute from late 1956. Israel’s small area permits relatively large scales, mostly 1:750,000–1:2,000,000, but demands detailed, accurate coverage and carefully sized symbols for concentrations around Tel Aviv. To represent rapid geographical change, the editors use time-sequence maps of population, settlement, agriculture, industry, landscape and rainfall. The authors argue that these series explain development and allow later maps to be added.
Changing political boundaries and uneven source reliability require different geographical coverage for different periods: most population and economic maps cover the former mandated territory through 1947 and Israel thereafter. Compilation draws on historical records, travellers’ accounts, statistics, existing research and investigations undertaken specifically for the atlas. The authors also discuss the difficulty of representing the contrast between Mediterranean and desert areas and an elevation range of roughly two kilometres. They explain problems with altitude tints and relief depiction, noting that errors on some early sheets were corrected in subsequent sheets.
The article outlines fifteen sections spanning cartography, physical geography, landscape evolution, history, population, settlement, economic activities and services, with some contents still planned. At the time of writing, five folders contained 47 sheets and 291 maps, with additional illustrations accompanying the explanatory text. Sheets were issued as completed in mixed-section folders, normally two annually, and the loose-leaf format allowed new sheets to be inserted.
Unknown · 1961
This Israeli information paper describes the compilation and publication of the Atlas of Israel, issued by the Survey of Israel and the Bialik Institute from late 1956. Israel’s small area permits relatively large scales, mostly 1:750,000–1:2,000,000, but demands detailed, accurate mapping and careful symbol sizing for concentrated populations and activities. Rapid demographic, agricultural and settlement changes led the editors to prioritize time-sequence maps. Political changes and uneven source coverage required different geographic extents for different periods: most human and economic maps cover mandated Palestine through 1947 and Israel thereafter. The paper discusses difficulties in representing the contrast across the aridity boundary and selecting elevation tints for terrain ranging from nearly 400 metres below sea level to 1,600 metres above it; it acknowledges relief-representation errors on early sheets and their correction on later ones. Fifteen thematic sections cover cartography, physical geography, history, population and economic activities. About 100 sheets with over 600 maps were planned. At the time of writing, four folders contained 39 sheets and 245 maps; sheets were issued as completed, without grouping folders by theme.
David H.K. Amiran; N. Kadmon · 1964
David H.K. Amiran and N. Kadmon discuss the editorial problems of the first Hebrew edition of the Atlas of Israel, completed in spring 1964 with 102 sheets and 720 large-scale maps. They identify three factors distinguishing it from the national atlases on which it was modelled: rapid changes in the cultural landscape, Israel’s geographical situation and form, and a changing documentary base. A population increase of about 600 percent over two generations and associated changes in agriculture, the economy, communications and services led to time-sequence maps for most subjects; the final folder supplied supplementary maps updating some topics. The authors also describe cartographic challenges arising from the contrast between the diverse north and relatively uniform south, and from varied terrain within small altitude ranges. Successive political frameworks over fifty years, including Ottoman and British rule, left scientific data uneven in coverage and reliability.
