Aage Aagesen · 1965
Aage Aagesen reviews the ongoing publication of Atlas Nacional do Brasil by the Conselho Nacional de Geografia, presenting it as a means of making Brazilian geographical research accessible. Publication of its first part, Parte Geral, began in November 1963; the regional part, covering six regions, was expected from January 1966. The general part covers political, physical, demographic, economic and socio-cultural geography and Brazil’s international position. Its loose-leaf maps are accompanied by explanatory texts, diagrams, tables, profiles and supplementary maps; national overview maps commonly use 1:10,000,000. Aagesen illustrates the available sheets through bioclimatic and Köppen climate maps, occupational population dots, agricultural production maps and transport maps. He praises their clear, well-chosen colours and readable presentation, and regards the atlas as a much-needed source of geographical knowledge about Brazil, with broader relevance to tropical regions.
Arch C. Gerlach · 1967
This review examines the Atlas Nacional do Brasil, published in 1966 by the National Council of Geography (IBGE) of Brazil. Classified as a national atlas, it follows standards recommended by the International Geographical Union to facilitate international comparisons. The atlas comprises 50 map plates organized into five sections: political-administrative, physical, demographic, economic, and socio-cultural, using a polyconic projection at 1:12,500,000 scale with supplementary tables and insets. The author considers it a valuable research and reference tool for governmental, commercial, and academic purposes, despite minor shortcomings in binding and color consistency, and hopes for future updates and expansions.
András Vagács · 1968
This review assesses the 1966 general volume of Brazil’s planned two-volume National Atlas. Its five sections cover political-administrative divisions, physical geography, demography, the economy, and selected sociocultural statistics, with the economic section receiving the most extensive treatment. The maps use consistent base mapping, restrained four-color design, supplementary maps, statistical tables, graphs, cross-sections, and explanatory texts. Although the atlas offers little methodological innovation, it generally selects appropriate established cartographic techniques. Weaknesses include omitted numerical scales, inconsistencies in boundary representation, thematic imbalance, and uneven density and detail across sheets. Nevertheless, the volume is regarded as an attractive, carefully produced, and commendable reference work that contributes substantially to knowledge of Brazil, while leaving high expectations for the forthcoming regional volume.
