Compte-rendu: Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Karten

Summary

This article is an in-depth review of the Atlas of the Federal Republic of Germany, a joint publication by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden and the Federal Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning in Bad Godesberg. The review details the atlas's structure, content, and characteristics, covering themes such as physical geography, population, economy, and regional division. It comments on the atlas's dual cartographic approaches: detailed 1:1,000,000 thematic maps and rapid Kartophot statistical maps. While acknowledging the atlas's significant academic and pedagogical value, the author also points out shortcomings in the selection, representation, and statistical indicators of certain maps. The review concludes by reflecting on the absence of a comparable national thematic atlas in France, advocating for a coordinated national mapping effort and improved statistical harmonization.