Atlas & Book Reviews: Atlas Nacional de Guatemala

Summary

This is an academic review of the 1972 National Atlas of Guatemala, produced by Guatemala's national geographical institute. The atlas, notable for its appealing format and careful scholarship, compares favorably with other Latin American national atlases in reference value. The review highlights that its three sections on physical, human, and economic resources effectively convey information through well-chosen color photographs and simple, appropriate symbols, with the plate on 'Internal Migration to Guatemala City, 1970' being particularly outstanding. However, the review also identifies several shortcomings, including the lack of scale indications on many plates, poor-quality black-and-white photographs, the absence of a section on political organization, and missing area data for Petén and Belize. Overall, the atlas is deemed highly accessible even to readers without Spanish proficiency, thanks to its clear symbols, legends, and colors, making it a splendid reference work.