Preliminary Atlas of Guatemala

Resenhas de Atlas e Cartas Especiais: Atlas Preliminar de Guatemala

Ruth L. C. Magnanini · 1965

This review examines the Preliminary Atlas of Guatemala, published in August 1964 by the General Directorate of Cartography, part of the National Geographic Institute. Compiled at a scale of 1:1,500,000, the atlas aims to support socioeconomic development projects by consolidating various national studies. It begins with political maps showing administrative divisions and urban centers, followed by physical maps covering hypsometry, vegetation, soils, climate, and geology. Population geography is addressed through analytical maps of distribution, density, birth and mortality rates, and urbanization percentages, culminating in a synthetic map. The second section presents a draft socioeconomic development plan, including irrigation areas for the next 20 years, a communication route network, a proposed reorganization of the current 23 departments into eight provinces and one central district, and the selection of 78 urban centers to tackle social and economic issues. Additional projects cover telecommunications, air routes, and hospitals. A final synthetic map integrates irrigation and fertilization needs, planned roads, and the new administrative division, highlighting the fundamental aspects of Guatemala's development process.