The National Atlas of Malawi

Reviews in brief: The national atlas of Malawi

Unknown · 1987

This review examines The National Atlas of Malawi, published in 1984. Originating from a project initiated in 1972 with British financial support, the atlas commemorates Malawi's economic and social development since independence in 1964. Its loose-leaf format allows for easy updating of dated pages. The atlas is structured into three sections: location and topography, history, and thematic maps. The thematic section, comprising 40 pages, covers five themes—natural environment, land resources, agriculture, industry, and social statistics—and is supplemented by a gazetteer of over 4,500 place names and a removable transparent population dot map. The review notes the atlas's adherence to international symbology conventions, its comprehensive content, and its utility as a reference for academic institutions, libraries, and government decision-makers, while also commenting on map design, data sources, and layout issues in specific plates.