National Atlas of Georgia

Forum: Reviews and Comments: National Atlas of Georgia

Stadelbauer, Jörg · 2018

The publication of the English edition of the National Atlas of Georgia, a collaboration between Georgian and German geographical institutes, marks a significant contribution to the internationalization of Georgian geographical knowledge. Originally published in Georgian in 2012, this comprehensive revision includes updated maps and expanded thematic content. This review examines the atlas’s structure, content coverage, and cartographic quality, highlighting its strengths and identifying areas for improvement. The atlas systematically presents Georgia’s physical environment, including tectonic setting, geology, geomorphology, climate, hydrology, soils, and vegetation, emphasizing the country’s remarkable natural diversity and landscape richness. Notable features include the Likhi (Surami) Range as a critical hydrographic and climatic divide, high levels of endemism in flora and fauna, and extensive maps on natural hazards exacerbated by human activity. The socio-economic section, though limited due to data scarcity, incorporates recent population census (2014) and 2016 estimates, revealing demographic decline during the post-Soviet transformation. Special attention is given to the cartographic treatment of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are included in physical maps but largely omitted from socio-economic ones, reflecting a major political challenge. While minor deficiencies exist—such as insufficient explanatory legends, missing reference periods for climate data, and some outdated agricultural maps—the atlas stands as an impressive editorial and cartographic achievement. Its English edition makes Georgia’s spatial diversity accessible to a global audience, fostering scientific cooperation. Despite the relatively small number of socio-economic maps, the publication serves as an invaluable introduction to Georgia, meriting recognition far beyond geography.