Atlas of the French Overseas Departments, 3: Guadeloupe
Atlas des départements français d'outre-mer, 3: La Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe · · 1982
Related Reviews & Articles
L'Atlas de la Guadeloupe
Louis Papy · 1984
This article is a review and introduction of the Atlas of Guadeloupe, published in 1982, which marked the completion of the series of atlases of French overseas departments. The atlas was conceived and directed by the geographer Guy Lasserre, with the collaboration of the Centre for Tropical Geography Studies in Bordeaux, ORSTOM, and numerous university researchers. The article first recalls the publication context and organizational framework, then systematically presents the contents of the atlas. In physical geography, the atlas provides detailed descriptions of the geology and geomorphology of Guadeloupe, with particular attention to volcanic landforms (such as the Soufrière volcano) and limestone landscapes (such as the Grands Fonds). The climatological chapters analyze the trade winds, the seasonal circulation, and the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes, especially the devastating Hurricane David of 1979. The vegetation and soil maps show the altitudinal distribution of ecosystems, from xerophytic coastal formations to hygrophilous mountain forests. In the socioeconomic sections, the atlas reveals the tertiary and assisted nature of the Guadeloupean economy: agricultural employment has sharply declined, industry provides limited jobs, while the tertiary sector—especially the civil service and tourism—has become the main source of employment, yet chronic unemployment persists. The atlas also covers energy, transportation infrastructure (roads, ports, airports), as well as administrative, health, educational, and religious facilities. Finally, it devotes a special section to the dependent islands (La Désirade, Les Saintes, Saint-Barthélemy, and Saint-Martin), highlighting their common traits and recent transformations due to tourism. The author concludes that this atlas is an undeniable success and a valuable working tool for regional planning, ranking among the highest-quality geographic reference works available for French tropical departments.
L'archipel Guadeloupeen en atlas
François Doumenge · 1985
This review introduces the Atlas de la Guadeloupe, the third volume in the atlas series of French overseas departments, produced by the C.E.G.E.T. Bordeaux team. Compared with the earlier atlases of Réunion and Martinique, this work posed greater challenges due to the archipelago's scattered islands, including Saint-Barthélemy and the French part of Saint-Martin. The atlas, comprising 36 plates with extensive scientific commentary, synthesizes contributions from 38 authors and reflects the academic legacy of Guy Lasserre. It provides comprehensive coverage of physical geography, vegetation, soils, land use, land tenure, and urbanization, offering both a regional encyclopedia and valuable comparative examples for tropical island studies. The review concludes that the atlas represents a high-level scientific achievement and an important instrument for more harmonious and effective regional development.
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