Colin G. Clarke · 1971
This article reviews the National Atlas of Cuba, published in 1970 as a joint effort by the Cuban and Soviet Academies of Sciences to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The atlas's first half systematically documents Cuba's physical geography, while the second half focuses on post-revolutionary economic, demographic, educational, and healthcare transformations. The author commends the atlas for its valuable insights into land reform, educational expansion, and medical improvements, yet notes that Cuba's economy remains heavily reliant on sugar production, with its former dependence on the U.S. replaced by close ties to the Soviet Union. The atlas inadequately addresses industrialization setbacks, trade specifics, and social inequalities, favoring achievements over failures. Overall, it serves as a crucial resource for understanding Cuba's post-revolutionary geography and society, though supplementary sources are needed for a more balanced perspective.
Leoš Jeleček · 1972
This review evaluates the National Atlas of Cuba, published in Havana in 1970 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Produced jointly by geographical institutes of the Cuban and Soviet academies of sciences, with contributions from scholars in other countries including Czechoslovakia, the atlas exemplifies international scientific cooperation and reflects the methods of the Soviet cartographic school. It contains 141 maps, cartograms, and plans, supplemented by graphs, diagrams, and profiles, and is judged to be technically accomplished and substantively rigorous. Its strongest and most extensive component is the physical-geographical section, comprising 56 geological, geomorphological, geophysical, soil, cyclone, and related maps. This emphasis demonstrates both Cuba’s need for detailed knowledge of its natural environment during early industrialization and the advanced state of relevant research. The economic section presents 44 maps covering agriculture, water management, industry, fisheries, and transportation, mostly using data from 1965–1967. However, the frequent representation of industry through monetary production values may distort geographical patterns. Population receives limited treatment because no comprehensive census had been conducted since 1953, preventing adequate mapping of ethnicity, demographic structure, and natural population change. By contrast, education, culture, health care, sport, and tourism are treated more extensively, highlighting sectors transformed after the revolution. The final historical section traces the cartographic exploration of Cuba and struggles for independence and revolution, ending with the 1953–1959 revolutionary campaign and the 1961 Playa Girón invasion. Despite unnumbered maps, absent source citations, partially outdated economic data, and limited historical-demographic coverage, the atlas is assessed as a representative, informative, and highly successful national cartographic achievement.
Richard W. Stephenson · 1972
The survey describes the Spanish and Russian editions of the national atlas of Cuba, published in Havana in 1970 and jointly prepared by the geography institutes of the Cuban and Soviet academies of sciences. It notes the atlas's varied contents: a three-sheet map at 1:750,000 showing settlements, administrative boundaries, roads and relief by hypsometric tints; ten pages of climatic maps; and maps of geomorphology, shoreline types and crop distributions. A critical evaluation is announced for a forthcoming issue of the Geographical Review.
