By Eric Losang· Abstracts of the International Cartographic Association 10: 181
The collapse of colonial empires after WWII led to the independence of 50 colonies by 1970, yet newly formed states often inherited former colonial administrative or demarcation boundaries, complicating nation-building and triggering numerous post-colonial civil wars. This paper employs a systematic multilevel analysis to compare the visualization modes, map language elements, narrative structures, and production processes of initial post-colonial national atlases, contrasting them with pre-independence atlases produced by colonial powers and with new editions published 25+ years after sovereignty. It unveils colonial and post-colonial narratives and explores different notions of the term "nation" as inclusive or exclusive constructions. The research shows that 80% of post-colonial states produced national atlases, often aimed at forging national identity and coherence.
By Zhaoxu Sui· Cartographic Perspectives 107: 73-76
This review examines John Rennie Short's *The Rise and Fall of the National Atlas in the Twentieth Century*, a comprehensive survey of official national atlases published worldwide during the twentieth century. Short interprets these atlases as rhetorical expressions of state 'cartographic power,' employed to legitimize territorial claims, consolidate national identities, and administer physical and social landscapes. Through case studies of Finland, Poland, Canada, Brazil, and several African nations, the book demonstrates how atlases reflect national agendas, contribute to nation-building, and evolve alongside political ruptures. The concluding chapter anticipates a digital future for the genre, proposing a 'Polyphonic Participatory Atlas' that offers a more inclusive platform. The reviewer praises the work's interdisciplinary depth but notes the notable absence of discussion on atlases from France, the UK, and Germany, and calls for a more thorough examination of the century's cartographic technological transitions.
This review presents John Rennie Short’s The Rise and Fall of the National Atlas in the Twentieth Century as an accessible, carefully contextualized study developed over twenty years. The book examines national atlases as instruments of state-building, sovereignty, territorial claims, and political power, addressing related questions of racism, imperialism, colonialism, and national identity. Historical discussion and case studies—including Argentina, China, Peru, Korea, and Finland—illustrate how atlas-making has served territorial disputes and projects of national renewal, making the volume relevant to readers of cartography, globalization, and the nation-state.
By Andrew Nicholson· Bulletin - Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives (ACMLA)(173): 37-38
In *The Rise and Fall of the National Atlas in the Twentieth Century*, John Rennie Short chronicles the global phenomenon of national atlas publishing, beginning with Finland's pioneering effort in 1899 and followed by over 70 countries. Through close reading of atlases from 40+ nations, Short examines them as coproductions of science and state, highlighting how governments used maps to define borders and assert sovereignty amid “cartographic anxiety.” The author traces the atlas's evolution from topographical surveys to include environmental and social data, peaking in influence between 1960 and 1980 before declining with thematic atlases and digital geotechnologies. Despite this, Short argues the national atlas's legacy endures. Richly illustrated and insightful, the book offers a vital contribution to cartographic and political history scholarship.
This review assesses John Rennie Short's "The Rise and Fall of the National Atlas in the Twentieth Century: Power, State and Territory." Employing a critical-theory approach, Short examines the production and content of national atlases as instruments of statecraft, interrogating the connections between nation-state, science, territory, and power. The book analyzes how atlases respond to "cartographic anxiety" and express national identities, and explores their representation of global discourses, the physical world, and the social world. Short argues that while the traditional national atlas has declined due to data overload, technological change, and rising costs, new technologies offer opportunities for reimagining the atlas as an interactive, participatory web-based portal to geo-information. The reviewer regards this as a provocative and comprehensive first attempt to grapple with this form of cartographic statecraft, likely to spur new research interest.
The Atlas Cookbook: Ten Ingredients How to Edit an Atlas is a guidebook published by the ICA Commission on Atlases, offering comprehensive advice to atlas authors from conception to publication. Using the metaphor of a cookbook, it compares atlas production to running a restaurant: users' need for geo-information corresponds to the fundamental need for food; the atlas concept and type correspond to the restaurant's concept and location; the project team corresponds to the cooking team; data quality corresponds to ingredient quality; workflow corresponds to recipes; map design and visualization correspond to food presentation; user interface and interactivity correspond to cutlery and table settings; user feedback corresponds to customer reviews; and financial and political sustainability corresponds to bill payment. The book is organized into ten chapters covering organization and marketing, editorial aspects, atlas use, thematic and geographic content, data management, multimedia elements, GUI and layout design, map design and visualization, interactive functionality, and prototyping and evaluation. Written at a management level rather than a technical one, it is applicable to both digital and printed atlas projects, emphasizing user needs, data reliability, team collaboration, sustainability, and effective dissemination. Drawing on the extensive experience of multiple cartographic experts, the book provides practical examples and recommendations to inspire and guide the initiation and execution of new atlas projects.
By René Sieber; Lorenz Hurni· Abstracts of the International Cartographic Association 5: 11
National atlases have a long tradition; first copies were published in the 19th century (e.g., National Atlas de Finlande in 1899), and they consisted initially only of a series of topographic maps. In the mid 1950s, the IGU/ICA commission under the lead of Prof. Salitchev propagated a rigid scheme for the map content, consisting of the five categories: Physical environment, Population, Economy, Culture, and Administrative structure (Ormeling 2022). Large format printed atlases were produced, the aim being to demonstrate the power and the beauty of the country. Still today, some national atlases follow basically this structure, sometimes slightly adapted or extended with new categories like Traffic and Ecology. Common to all of these national atlases are well curated atlas maps with a strict display order, and mainly addressing the people of the own country, sometimes also used for nation building.
With the emergence of electronic national atlases in the 1990s (e.g., Atlas of Canada, Atlas of Spain, Atlas of Sweden), the concept of interactivity was established in atlas GUIs and maps. The benefit of such an interactive design was achieved by changing the map layers, and through the combination of map layers. Around the year 2000, 3D visualizations became possible (e.g., Atlas of Switzerland). These features in digital atlases allowed users to create never-before-seen maps, and exploration of the map content with the help of free navigation, as well as compilation, analysis and comparison of maps and map elements (Hurni and Sieber 2018, Sieber et al. 2019).
At the same time, the focus of national atlases shifted from the (propagandistic) nation's viewpoint to a more individual socio-cultural perspective, which is determined by the interests and needs of atlas users.
However, with the transition from physical copies (book, CD-ROM, DVD) to publication on the Internet, the visibility of digital national atlases has decreased dramatically. Their use also stagnated because national atlases were not used as an everyday tool, as national and regional geo-browsers – some of which are competitors of an atlas – are today. The plan to install national atlases as an SDI frontend (Köbben 2017) has failed in large part, only the Atlas of the Ukraine is still following this strategy (Putrenko 2022). In addition, there are many internal challenges, inter alia static GUI design, an overload of atlas features, and repetitive visualization (Sieber and Losang 2020).
Now, what could be the solution to solve this dilemma? How can we make national atlases more visible, more attractive and more integrated into daily life?
We can try to solve this essential challenge with two propositions, one of them is basically a top-down approach, the other one a bottom-up approach. The goal of both approaches is to "tear down the firewall between the visualized data and the user", as Ian Muehlenhaus (2022) recently postulated.
In the Top-down Approach, we rely on a customized application, specialized in terms of content, tools and topicality. The maps of such an atlas should cover mostly current events and changes. Thus, people are getting interested and hopefully stay tuned. The thematic focus could be on didactics or geo-sciences, for example, presented in a popular way. This enables the visualization of actual data and current issues.
The Bottom-up Approach is apparently more user-driven.
By Eric Losang· Abstracts of the International Cartographic Association 5: 8
The publication of the Atlas de Finlande in 1899 is often praised as the manifestation of an atlas genre that spread over the course of the 20th century in the aftermath of two world wars and in the era of decolonisation. Nowadays the term "national" is often veiled by similar publications to avoid possible associations with fascist, revanchist or separatist motivations.
It is this term "national" that also inspires the discussion of whether the Finnish national atlas can be taken as the first of its kind. Several cartographic scholars have discussed and defined alternative origins of the concept. Based on a variety of explanatory approaches they end up in differing definitions.
How national atlases fit into the different approaches has been a topic of academic cartographic considerations that often merely touched the important technological, institutional, economic, societal, political and user-centric developments, especially in the past decades. In addition, approaches to categorise atlases, which focus solely on empirical or structural elements, such as the number and topics of maps and their temporal and spatial sequence, can reduce the scope of analysis.
This paper takes up a post-structuralist approach, asking questions about the changing national narratives that drive national atlases over time by employing a critical approach that situates national atlases in their respective contexts based on a wider systematic consideration of changes in the meaning of the term "national". Thus, not only historical contexts but their inscription as a "story" that atlases tell come to the fore in an analysis of production systems, self-definition and academic reception as well as aspects of how the use of toponyms drives and, inversely, is driven by national narratives.
In conclusion, the paper contributes to discussions of canonical definitions of national atlases. By situating them in their respective historical contexts, it unveils how and under what circumstances concepts have changed and explains why recent developments need to be considered when talking about the definitions and the further development of national atlases.
Between 1900 and 2000, more than seventy countries produced a national atlas, an official or quasi-official rendering of the nation-state in maps and accompanying text. This book considers the reasons behind and characteristics of this state-sponsored cartographic explosion. These national atlases mirror and embody some of the important themes of this turbulent century, including the complex connections between nation, state and territory, the rise of state-sponsored science; the growth of nation-states; colonialism and postcolonialism; and the geography of biopolitics.
By Eric H. Losang· Abstracts of the International Cartographic Association 1: 1-1
The publication of the first National Atlas in 1899 marked the emergence of an atlas category that thrived over the upcoming century. The "Atlas de Finlande", successfully presented at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900, used to coin this title and being published in Paris by the National Geographic Society of Finland, had a true nation-building function.
In the same year, following the US victory in the Spanish-American War, the Atlas of the Philippine Islands (Atlas de Filipinas) was published by the US Coastal and Geodetic Survey, containing two front pages, one in English indicating the USC&GS as publisher, the other in Spanish mentioning the supervision of the project by Father J. Algue, the director of the Manila Observatory. Never referred to as a national atlas, it comprises a series of maps on the Islands and a bilingual abstract on map conventions, a bilingual gazetteer and a thorough introduction into places, places names and their pronunciation. For these atlases, the publication circumstances remain somehow heterogeneous and cannot be compared with modern national atlases and even atlases published in the same period seem to have different hallmarks.
Why considering the Atlas de Finlande a national atlas but define the 1878 Statistical Atlas of the United States only a statistical Atlas? Because of the title? What atlases are more nationally defined than school atlases? Is an atlas published by a non-governmental executing agency a national atlas? Is governmental support and approval needed?
How national atlases fit into different approaches to thoroughly define them (e.g. Salischew 1967) has been subject to academic cartographic self-conception that ignored technological, institutional, economic and user-related developments over time. In addition, these approaches to categorise atlases solely focused structural elements, such as the number and topics of maps and their temporal and spatial sequence. The question of how atlases have been characterised by their publishers and have been perceived in closely following reviews is a possible approach to either situate national atlases as a strict category or a politically induced perception.
The article introduces a post-structuralist approach focussing the textual analysis of both, self-perception verbalized through introductions and prefaces in respective atlases and reviews, contemporarily published in the following years. Introducing common definitions and juxtapose the historical perception of national atlases tries to operationalize Harley's critical approach, that situates maps in their respective historical context. By regarding an atlas not only as a bound collection of maps but as a carefully organised selection of spatial information unveils the power of atlases, which maybe exceeds those of single maps. To analyse atlases in their historic context by including their self-definition and contemporary perception will identify so far unattended aspects and to alternative views on national atlases and their editing and production frameworks. Thus retrograde definitions can be reconsidered.
By M. I. Gerasimova; M. D. Bogdanova· Eurasian Soil Science 48(9): 911-922
An analysis of the contents and legends of soil maps (basic and soil-related ones) in the national atlases published in the last 25–30 years was performed. Only national atlases as integral cartographic products of high scientific level implementing the recent soil–geographic and classification concepts were considered. These were atlases of thirty countries, mainly of the European ones, published in traditional and electronic formats. Soil classifications used for the basic soil maps comprise the national classifications, sometimes with the synonyms of the FAO Soil Map legend or the World Reference Base, and rarely with those from American Soil Taxonomy. In most atlases, only dominant soils are shown on soil maps, sometimes soil-forming rocks are mentioned, and rarely natural zones are. Along with the basic soil maps, there are supplementary ones containing data on soil properties and regimes, as well as diverse maps compiled for agricultural and ecological purposes; in terms of methodology, the maps may be qualified as interpretation and factual ones. The integrity of all these maps provides a comprehensive insight into the ecological functions of the soils.
Geospatial Data infrastructures have been developed worldwide. Geoportals have been created as an interface to allow users or the community to discover and use geospatial data offered by providers of these initiatives. This study focuses on the development of a web national atlas as an alternative means to geoportals, when accessing a Geospatial Data Infrastructure (GDI). From usability studies undertaken during this study, it was apparent that interaction methods and information presented in many geoportals to help user review and make sense of the search results are far from optimal. The virtue of maps and graphics in order to stimulate visual thinking and to provide effective communication before and after 'a search' in current geoportals have not yet been considered essential. As a proposed solution, a national atlas metaphor was developed. The prospective use of the atlas schemata includes the prominent role of maps in the atlas and the organizational approach of the atlas were explored to transform design ideas into a working prototype of an atlas interface metaphor for improved accessibility of the GDI, called Aim4GDI. The Aim4GDI applied the atlas information structure (built as the realization of an adaptation of the atlas schemata) in order to organize thematic maps, images, graphics and information resources related to the GDI including metadata summaries. Metadata summaries are aggregated metadata of geospatial resources in the GDI such as offline data, WMS, and feature services (WFS). The Aim4GDI combines the metadata and query language for the Semantic Web with cartographic design templates in managing and visualizing metadata summaries. This prototype enables users to search and browse geospatial resources through developed visual methods. The table, thumbnail, bull's-eye, and Parallel Coordinate Plots (PCP) views are the visual methods that can help users indicate, compare, and associate the search results. The visual methods that are offered to help users browse and make sense of the geospatial resources include the topic directory and a map viewer, thumbnail, PCP, and in-focus views. In support of browsing interactions, the developed information structure is used as a narrative structure for providing an interactive storytelling presentation to users while browsing. To further demonstrate the usefulness of this approach, an extension of the atlas metaphor to support collaboration efforts via the GDI was developed. The usefulness of the visual methods of the Aim4GDI to help users search, browse, and collaborate with each other using geospatial data offered in the GDI were confirmed in a series of use assessments. It can be concluded that a national atlas metaphor is essential not only to represent a synthesis of knowledge of physical and geographic elements that characterize a country, but also to improve the discovery and use of geospatial resources offered via a GDI. Although this study focused on the use of a national atlas metaphor in the context of the national Dutch GDI, the results of this study are also applicable in order to help other countries advance the role of their national atlases in the world of GDI.
This report covers the International Conference on National and Regional Atlases, held in Kolkata, India, from February 22 to 24, 2003. Sponsored by the National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO) of India, the conference was co-organized with the ICA Commission on National and Regional Atlases and the Memorial Foundation to Prof. S.P. Chatterjee. The event commemorated Professor Chatterjee's outstanding contributions to geography and cartography, particularly his role in establishing the National Atlas Organization in 1956. Nearly 200 participants from government, academia, and the private sector attended, engaging in technical sessions on atlas products, automated cartography, and future directions. A panel discussion highlighted the need to balance traditional high standards with modern automated methods to meet growing mapping demands. The conference successfully shared past achievements and charted a path for future possibilities in atlas cartography.
By Christian Witschel· Kartographische Nachrichten 50(6): 274-281
Since the end of the 19th century, more than 100 countries have published national atlases, some in multiple editions. According to the 1960 definition by the International Geographical Union (IGU), a national atlas is a "large, complex geographical atlas of individual countries, containing a summary and evaluation of current scientific knowledge of the physical, economic, and political geography of the country concerned." Based on an analysis of 56 atlases, this paper addresses three core questions: first, whether developmental periods can be derived from conceptual and design perspectives; second, how these periods correlate with the functions assigned to the respective atlases; and third, whether recommendations for future national atlas publication can be formulated. The study reveals that the developmental history of national atlases can be divided into several main phases. The atlases published before 1918 were exclusively bound volumes, focusing on physical geography and closely resembling the physical-statistical atlases of the 19th century. During the 1920s and 1930s, economic themes gained importance, loose-leaf formats emerged, and design became more heterogeneous; the Soviet atlas pioneered the inclusion of chorographic and synthetic maps. Between 1946 and 1960, boxed loose-leaf collections became the new publication form, economic themes played a central role, and offset printing significantly improved print quality. In the 1960s, format reductions occurred, indexes became common, and a clear East-West contrast in cartographic approaches emerged. Since the 1970s, new conceptual variants appeared, including multi-volume thematic sets and continuous loose-leaf works, with increased problem orientation and the use of aerial photographs. From the 1980s onward, multi-volume publication became standard, with equal emphasis on maps, images, and accompanying text; electronic versions were first undertaken at the end of the decade, and design increasingly catered to broad marketing needs and public comprehensibility. Regarding functional change, the first national atlases of Finland (1899) and Canada (1906) clearly served a politically motivated representational function to support sovereignty aspirations. The Soviet atlas (1937-1940) was the first to serve primarily as a decision-making basis for political and economic planning. The flood of atlases in the postwar period up to the late 1950s responded to global political and territorial changes and the immense need for information on economic and natural resources. Today, digital technology is fundamentally transforming national atlases. Canada has already established a "National Atlas of Canada Online" on the World Wide Web, offering customized map services. Electronic atlases based on multithematic databases offer significant advantages: considerable time and cost savings in map production, demand-specific map information, interactivity, easy updating, and substantial personnel savings. In the future, comprehensive national data collections may replace the classic paper atlas for certain target groups, and potentially also regional atlases, city atlases, and other special atlases, with a single database serving as the basis for thematic presentations at various scales, generalization levels, and degrees of complexity. Although a transition period with multiple publication forms is expected, the trend toward fully electronic national atlases, including communication via digital networks, is already underway and offers entirely new possibilities for information processing and dissemination.
This dissertation presents a systematic comparative study of the development, conception, design, and function of national atlases worldwide, from the first Atlas de Finlande in 1899 to recent publications, set against the backdrop of the planned German national atlas. The study traces the complete historical trajectory of national atlases, dividing it into distinct developmental phases: early beginnings (1899-1918), interwar development (1919-1945), postwar reconstruction (1946-1960), the boom of the 1960s, maturation in the 1970s, and new approaches since 1980. For each phase, the author analyzes historical-political contexts, conceptual designs, cartographic techniques, and typological characteristics, with particular attention to the influence of International Geographical Union (IGU) recommendations on national atlas production. The research reveals a significant evolution in the concept and function of national atlases: from initial tools for national representation and scientific documentation, they developed into comprehensive multi-purpose reference works serving national planning, educational purposes, and international comparison. Technologically, the field progressed from traditional manual cartography through computer-assisted methods to contemporary electronic media, profoundly shaping atlas formats. Based on systematic analysis, the author proposes a recommendation framework for future national atlases, which is then compared with the concrete plans for the ATLAS BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND following German reunification. The study also highlights the special position of the Finnish national atlases, whose successive editions serve as a model of continuity and innovation. Finally, the author offers perspectives on future developments, emphasizing digitalization and networked media as key trends for national atlases in the electronic age.
By Ulrich Freitag· Atlas Production for Southeast Asia: 15-22
A national atlas is a fundamental multi-subject geographic atlas of a single country, providing a comprehensive representation of contemporary scientific knowledge in physical, economic, and political geography, as defined by Salichtchev in 1960, emphasizing its scientific value and national prestige. However, existing definitions focus primarily on content and regional scope, often overlooking the atlas's core intent—serving as a symbol of national unity, political independence, and a showcase of national achievements. The production of national atlases typically involves collaboration between government agencies and scientific societies, fulfilling dual functions of spatial information provision and ideological formation, which frequently overlap. Since the Atlas of Finland in 1899, the development of national atlases has been closely linked to the establishment of nation-states, data availability, and cartographic advancements. The 20th century witnessed two peaks: after World War I, newly independent states created atlases to consolidate national identity, and after World War II, resource reassessment and decolonization spurred another wave. The Soviet Union assisted in producing atlases for countries like Cuba and Mongolia, while many nations, including Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, and Japan, developed large-scale comprehensive atlases. As global economic growth and environmental challenges intensified, traditional static atlases became inadequate, leading to the emergence of electronic atlases. These are categorized into read-only versions, which digitize existing atlases for educational use, and interactive versions, built on GIS, offering zoom, overlay, animation, and spatial modeling capabilities for planning and decision-making. The Electronic Atlas of Canada represents the most advanced interactive prototype, indicating a future shift toward dynamic analysis and user engagement. In summary, national atlases have evolved from static symbols to dynamic tools, consistently serving national identity and spatial understanding.
The digital revolution will impose considerable change on atlas cartography. Traditional paper atlases will be produced and marketed for quite some time to come. However, their merit and viability will be increasingly challenged by innovative digital atlas products. These new atlas products will change the image of the atlas as we know it today. In fact, they may well advance the concept of "an atlas" towards that of a sophisticated atlas-based, integrated information system.
Today, we can only speculate what exact shape these new atlas information products will take; the digital technology revolution and the information revolution are still too young to forecast their exact impacts. A point made in this paper is that, in the process of visualizing innovative atlas products, it is not appropriate for atlas makers and cartographers to be guided by and drift with technology trends, adopting and adapting technology. We need to visualize the next generation of atlas products by looking beyond the limitations of today's technology capabilities. Instead of following technological innovations, we should identify what technological capabilities we need and direct the computing industry to deliver on our needs.
A second point elaborated in this paper is that we should start seriously to consult the atlas user community when visualizing the next generation of atlas products. We should ask the atlas readership to tell us what information contents and what query and analytical capabilities we should be adding to the future atlas, and we should give the users a chance to tell us their preferred methods of information access and retrieval.
A question that this paper has failed to address is: who should conceptualize, operationalize and maintain the next generation of digital atlases? It is anticipated that the future digital atlas information systems will be beyond the skills and capabilities of the traditional team of individuals putting together a paper atlas. The know-how, funding, administration, and technological requirements necessary to make the next generation of digital atlas information systems work will exceed the capabilities of any one individual or stakeholder group. These new atlas products will need to be conceptualized, developed, and administered by a consortium of experts from universities and research institutes, industry and government.
The biggest challenge facing any new atlas initiative in the 1990s is to secure the considerable financial support required to make it all work. The atlas research community needs to share information about how to politic and bid successfully to secure the necessary funds. One thing is for sure: having a well-defined and exciting product vision that has received endorsement from the atlas user community will lend credibility and weight to an effort to secure atlas funding.
National atlases play multiple roles. In addition to providing a coherent summary of a country's physical and human geography, the national atlas has been a symbol of national unity, scientific achievement, and political independence. The first national atlas, Christopher Saxton's Atlas of England and Wales (1579), not only represented the unity of the English state but also celebrated Elizabeth I's patronage of astronomy and geography. Although governments have commissioned single-county atlases intermittently since Saxton's time, the national atlas did not emerge as a distinct cartographic genre until the late nineteenth century. Cartobibliographies and other enumerations of national atlases reveal noteworthy increases during the 1920s and 1930s and again in the 1950s and 1960s, when many former colonies gained independence.
This article reviews the first meeting of the ICA Commission on National and Regional Atlases, held in Madrid, Spain, and provides a detailed account of the progress of the National Atlas of Spain. The meeting took place from May 18 to 22, 1991, hosted by the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN), bringing together experts from various countries to discuss topics such as innovative atlas production techniques, educational atlases, and national atlas information systems. The article first expresses gratitude to the organizers and participants, emphasizing the role of technical facilities (e.g., audio-visual materials, simultaneous translation, computer equipment) in facilitating successful discussions, while underscoring the importance of human collaboration. It then focuses on the current status and future plans of the National Atlas of Spain: initiated in 1930, the project employs the Intergraph system for digital cartography, with plans to publish two volumes—the first containing 13 sections and the second 14 sections—targeting completion by the end of 1993. The article also presents workload statistics, including 278 base maps, 99 photographs, 355 graphics, and other elements, and discusses technical challenges such as text justification issues, system suitability limitations, and bureaucratic administrative processes. Finally, it introduces a puzzle product developed with a toy factory as an extension of the atlas. Overall, the article summarizes the meeting's outcomes, showcases Spain's innovative practices in atlas production, and suggests areas for future improvement.
By S. Jaatinen· Proceedings of the 16th International Cartographic Conference 1: 585-593
This paper examines the theoretical and practical issues of integrating regional, national, and international atlas cartography. The author argues that modern thematic cartography overemphasizes technical processing while neglecting data quality, result validity, and integration problems, leading to an overly narrow scope. Drawing on the experience of compiling the Atlas of Finland (especially the fifth edition), the paper analyzes challenges of integrating maps at different scales, addressing both technical aspects (e.g., adapting choropleths and symbols) and scholarly consistency (truthful content, logic, comparable structures). The KALSKE computer-assisted system developed in Finland for cataloging and retrieving thematic maps is introduced. The paper also discusses integration at national and international levels, noting problems such as lack of cooperation among cartographic bodies and inconsistent data interpretation. Finally, the author advocates a shift toward problem-oriented thematic cartography, emphasizing integration at both local and international extremes, and calls for enhanced cooperation among cartographers to improve the quality and efficiency of thematic information dissemination.
By F. P. Dammerer· Kartographische Nachrichten 43(6): 236-238
This paper examines the distortion characteristics of the perspective azimuthal projection ("betrachtungstreue" Azimutalprojektion) and its limitations in cartographic practice. Through numerical analysis, the study reveals that the length scale in the meridian direction decreases rapidly with increasing latitude, reaching zero at 45° latitude, which causes distant parts of the globe to be severely reduced and limits visibility. Compared with the orthographic projection, this projection exhibits more pronounced distortions; although it provides a natural spatial impression, this is achieved at the cost of strong perspective foreshortening and significant geometric deformation. Consequently, its practical application is restricted to special cases. An example of Africa in transverse aspect is provided for illustration. Furthermore, the article reviews the lives and achievements of two prominent Austrian thematic cartographers of the 19th century, Josef Chavanne and Franz Ritter von Le Monnier, with particular focus on their contributions to the "Physikalisch-Statistischer Hand-Atlas von Oesterreich-Ungarn" (1882–1887), which is regarded as the first national atlas of Austria-Hungary and influenced later Finnish national atlases. Finally, the paper briefly reports on the second geotechnica international trade fair for geosciences and geotechnology held in Cologne in 1993, emphasizing the growing importance of computer-assisted cartography in information systems.
This paper presents the preface and selected paper abstracts from the proceedings of the 1990 Beijing meeting of the ICA National Atlases Commission. The meeting brought together commission members and foreign colleagues from Sweden, Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, India, the Soviet Union, Czech and Slovakia, along with over 40 Chinese counterparts. A total of 35 papers were collected, 26 of which were presented, focusing primarily on national reports on national atlases, electronic atlases, and national atlas information systems. The proceedings were edited by Dr. Timothy Trainor of the U.S. Bureau of Census, with editorial assistance from Senior Engineer Jin Yinchun and Research Assistant Chen Xiaogang, and partial review by Associate Professor Yan Chongchao. At the opening ceremony, addresses were delivered by Professor Sun Honglie, Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Huang Bingwei, President of the Geographical Society of China, and Professor Chen Shupeng, among others, emphasizing the Chinese government's commitment to national atlas compilation and reviewing China's cartographic heritage from ancient silk maps, bronze maps, and stone-carved maps to modern national atlases. The papers cover diverse topics: a preliminary design for a China National Atlas Information System (objectives, hardware/software environment, database construction, and cartographic expert system); compilation experiences of the Yellow River Basin Atlas (systematic topic selection, unified base map system, reliable data, symbol design, coordination, and printing); features of the Hunan Provincial Economic Atlas (resource-environment-economy focus, novel and reliable data, theoretical guidance, and public accessibility); organization and compilation of the Hebei Provincial Series Atlases (sound editorial organization, scientific and practical content, new technology adoption, and data quality control); compilation principles and structure of the Henan Agricultural Resources and Agricultural Zoning Atlas; design concepts for environmental prediction and countermeasure atlases; compilation principles and integrated cartographic theory application in irrigation atlases; and the Selected Collection of Ancient Chinese Maps, which divides China's map history into four stages (primitive maps, yudi maps, grid-based maps, and longitude-latitude surveyed maps) and introduces treasured ancient maps.
By B. Winid· Mapping the Nations: Proceedings 1: 130-135
The paper reviews the necessity for improved map-user orientation in production of National Atlases in developing countries. The low level of knowledge of geography and mathematics causes by the average atlas user difficulties in understanding and use of maps in his office or education-related activities.
Not only the signs and colours should be adjusted to the "customs" of each country, but also the scales should be easily understandable, and comparable with other thematic maps in the atlas. The topics presented should be characteristic and relevant to the country in question. Changes of administrative boundaries and urban systems should be marked. The relatively recent gaining of independence by these countries forces us to pay some attention also to historical, geopolitical and geoeconomic factors, and to show the three stages of pre-colonial, colonial and independent periods. Presentation of absolute figures should be made clearer. Geographical name changes, as well as local-geographical definitions or products names, should receive more attention.
By Tomáš Beránek; Krysia Rybaczuk; Michael Blakemore· Mapping the Nations: Proceedings of the 15th Conference and 9th General Assembly of the International Cartographic Association 1: 334–339
This paper examines the application and significance of synthetic maps in national atlases. Synthetic maps integrate characteristics and interrelations of multiple phenomena into a systematic representation, addressing the limitations of traditional thematic maps in depicting complex realities. Based on a systematic study of 86 national atlases published worldwide between 1960 and 1989, the paper analyzes the distribution, thematic classification, and developmental trends of synthetic maps. Findings reveal that synthetic maps of natural elements (e.g., vegetation, relief, geology) dominate, while population and agriculture maps are prevalent among socio-economic categories. The proportion of synthetic maps fluctuated over time, with a notable increase in the late 1980s, reflecting their growing importance in modern atlas production. Synthetic maps enhance information capacity and readability, serving as valuable tools for scientific research and regional planning.
By Robert B. Kent· Internationale Schulbuchforschung 9(2): 143-153
Atlases are unique educational resources, and national atlases can prove to be excellent tools for assisting in a variety of educational tasks ranging from the preparation of classroom materials to the production of textbooks. National atlases exist for nearly 80 countries throughout the world, and new atlases and new editions are constantly being produced. The size and quality of most national atlases seem to bear a direct relationship to the economic status of the nation which it represents. Western and Eastern Bloc countries have the largest and most sophisticated national atlases, whereas nations from the Third World have smaller, less complex national atlases. However, the thematic content of national atlases varies very little among nations. Economic activity consistently dominates the content of national atlases, followed by an emphasis on the physical environment ? together representing between 50 and 60 per cent of thematic content. They are followed in order of importance by culture, population, regional, introductory material, and miscellaneous material. This consistency in content among national atlases recommends them as comparative, as well as simply descriptive educational resources. Because of the unique characteristics of all atlases, not just national atlases, and the range and amount of information they include, educators need to consider their more frequent utilization in the preparation of class materials, teaching units, and textbooks. Les atlas nationaux se sont av�r�s efficaces dans l'enseignement de la g�ographie de presque 80 pays du monde. De nouvelles �ditions nationales sont constamment produites. Evidemment, la grosseur et la qualit� des atlas d�pendent de la situation �conomique du pays respectif. Tandis que les atlas �dit�s dans les pays occidentaux et dans les Etats du bloc oriental sont volumineux et tr�s d�taill�s, ceux des pays du Tiers Monde sont moins complexes. Cependant, il n'y a pas de diff�rence fondamentale en ce qui concerne leur contenu. Dans tous les atlas nationaux c'est l'�conomie qui tient le premier rang devant la g�ographie physique, les deux domaines constituant 50?60 % du contenu total, suivis de la culture, la population et la g�ographie r�gionale et, enfin, des mat�riaux d'introduction et divers. Cette structure pareille des atlas permet de les employer comme des instruments non seulement descriptifs mais aussi comparatifs. En raison des caract�ristiques communes de tous les atlas et vu la quantit� d'informations qu'ils comportent, un emploi plus fr�quent par les enseignants et par les auteurs de manuels scolaires serait souhaitable.
Maps can be used to both represent and distort reality. National governments are one of the most prolific producers of map products and a nation's mapping policy determines what will be mapped, when, and how. In some instances, national governments intentionally modify maps to suit political and strategic goals. National atlases are demonstrations of a nation's character and pride and portray a nation to its own people and the world. This study examines the size, use of language, and subject content of 30 national atlases from among four groups of nations broadly representing distinct political and socioeconomic orientations: the West, the Eastern Bloc, the Independent Third World, and the Colonial Third World. Significant differences exist among the four groups, with the wealthier groups producing larger, more complex atlases in more languages. Subject content varies little among the four groups, suggesting that political orientation and wealth have little influence on the subject content of national atlases. Government mapping policy, in all countries, plays a critical role in the map products available to the public and invites careful study and scrutiny by cartographers and geographers.
By Ernst Benedict· Ergebnisse und Perspektiven geographischer und kartographischer Forschungen: 45-62
This paper explores the relationship between national atlases and geographic information systems (GIS), reflecting on the further development of the national atlas concept. It first reviews the phenomenon, conception, and development trends of national atlases, highlighting their significant role in science, economy, planning, and education. The paper then analyzes the application of computer-assisted information processing in national atlas compilation, particularly its role and limitations in producing publication originals and design work. It emphasizes that while computer-assisted cartography has advanced in simple map production, it still cannot replace manual work in the high-quality design of complex thematic maps. Finally, the paper introduces the GIS developed by the Institute of Geography and Geoecology (IGG) and illustrates with examples how it supports national atlas compilation, proposing that national atlases should be regarded as a component of GIS and constitute an ongoing task.
This paper examines the sources and compilation methods of thematic maps, with a focus on the development, objectives, and content structure of national and regional atlases. It points out that thematic map compilation requires scale transformation and redesign of representation methods based on existing topographic maps, supplemented by literature and historical archival materials. The article traces the evolution from Finland's first national atlas to the atlas compilation efforts of various countries after World War II, with particular attention to Szaliscsev's recommendations, including the ratio of physical to economic maps (1:1 for national atlases, 1:2.5 for regional atlases). Additionally, the paper reviews the development of geological mapping in Hungary, from early surveys by foreign scholars in the 19th century to the establishment of the Hungarian Geological Institute and its systematic mapping work, demonstrating the significant role of geological thematic mapping in serving national economic construction.
By Mark S. Monmonier· The American Cartographer 8(2): 161-168
Planning for a second edition of the National Atlas of the United States is aided by interactive computing and a system of codes and computer programs for displaying schematic layouts of map sheets. This form of computer-assisted cartography is particularly useful when editing a table of contents for an atlas with individual sheets that are to be sold separately. Electronic mail and computer-managed information exchange promote communication among collaborators on the National Atlas Project.
A national atlas is a systematic and comprehensive cartographic work compiled by authoritative national institutions, reflecting a country's natural, social, and economic conditions, with origins dating back to the late 17th century. This paper systematically reviews the development history of national atlases, identifying the Finnish National Atlas of 1899 as the world's earliest recognized national atlas, and outlines the context of competitive national atlas production among European countries during 1950–1970. The main body of the paper presents a detailed tabular inventory of 83 representative national atlases from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania, providing information on each atlas's compiling institution, publication year, scale, format, and annotations. This serves as a valuable reference for cartographic research and national atlas compilation practice.
By Nikolai Fjodorowitsch Leontjew· Petermanns geographische Mitteilungen 124(4): 293-296
This article examines conceptual and cartographic design issues in national atlases of developing countries. The author notes that national atlases, emerging in the late 19th century, gained significant momentum after World War II due to decolonization and the rise of new states, with about 80% of national and complex regional atlases appearing in Africa and Latin America. The International Geographical Union (IGU) established a Commission on National Atlases in 1956, but its work largely served countries with advanced cartographic services, while developing countries faced unique challenges due to lacking geographical traditions, developed cartography, and organized statistics. The article emphasizes that national atlases are highly valuable for developing countries, efficiently integrating information on natural resources and labor to support economic planning, personnel training, and scientific research, while fostering international cooperation. However, these atlases are not neutral data compilations but reflect each country's natural, historical, and socio-economic characteristics. Their thematic content often prioritizes natural resource surveys and key sectors like agriculture and industry, yet is constrained by inadequate theoretical research and classification systems, requiring navigation of multiple scientific perspectives. Using Cuba's national atlas as an example, the author illustrates how different legend schemes can be applied for topics like soil maps. Additionally, these atlases feature numerous applied maps, such as mineral resources classified by use, and introduce regionalization maps offering practical recommendations. The author recommends loose-leaf publication for easy updates and comparison, and advocates including regional maps at larger scales to support development projects. Given the lack of separate historical atlases in developing countries, the author argues for incorporating historical maps to enhance scientific value. In conclusion, developing countries' national atlases require flexible design and strict consideration of national specifics and research levels, as applying principles from developed countries may not always be beneficial, presenting intriguing problems whose solutions will advance atlas cartography.
This paper, based on the proceedings of an international seminar sponsored by the Pan-American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) and held in Ottawa in March 1979, systematically explores the purpose, value, uses, and future directions of national and regional atlases. The article begins by noting that despite criticism of national atlases, the production and popularity of world and regional atlases have grown significantly, making this seminar timely. The seminar focused on the utility of national atlases in the electronic age, the application of computer technology, and ways to better serve the user community. Canada was an ideal host due to recent major evaluations and changes in its National Atlas program, as well as new projects such as the Historical Atlas of Canada proposed by the University of Toronto and the Atlas of the North proposed by the Royal Society of Canada. The paper emphasizes that atlases are vital for planners, administrators, researchers, and educators, and reviews Canadian cartographic history, from Juan de la Cosa's 1500 map—the first to depict Canada—to Alexander von Humboldt's rediscovery, highlighting the interdisciplinary and transnational nature of national cartographic studies. The concluding section deeply analyzes the multiple functions of national atlases: supporting natural resource renewal, national wealth utilization, economic planning, and cultural environment planning; while also serving as educational tools and cultural ambassadors, fostering patriotism and international understanding. Drawing on experiences from the Soviet Union, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and Hungary, the article notes applications in higher education, commercial publishing, media, political decision-making, market surveys, national prestige display, and information dissemination. However, planners typically require a broader range of map products, and national atlases often lack prognostic maps. The paper discusses the importance of users' map-reading skills (termed 'cartogracy' or 'graphicacy') and suggests enhancing training through education systems, while also bringing atlases closer to the public via exhibitions and user guides. Finally, it raises eight critical questions for future national atlases, including the need for new editions, subject selection, presentation methods, technical specifications, and user targeting, along with cost considerations, emphasizing the challenge of balancing quality, utility, and economy in the digital age.
By R. Habel· Petermanns geographische Mitteilungen 118(4): 319
This document comprises two book reviews. The first reviews four issues of the Canadian 'Cartographica' monograph series, covering the history of 17th-century Newfoundland mapping, the influence of map users on design, Soviet historical cartography, and the standardization of national atlases, highlighting the series' demonstration of advanced Canadian cartography. The second reviews E. Arnberger's 'Die Kartographie im Alpenverein', which systematically summarizes the surveying and cartographic work behind over a hundred high-mountain maps by the Alpine Association, offering detailed, balanced assessments and a comprehensive chronological bibliography, establishing it as a key reference in cartographic history.
By Н. Ф. Леонтьев· Известия Академии наук СССР. Серия географическая(2): 98–105
This article examines the issue of the unification of national atlases. It begins by reviewing the history of national atlases, noting that after World War II, particularly since the 18th International Geographical Congress in Rio de Janeiro in 1956, the compilation of national atlases was recognized as a major task of modern geography, leading to the establishment of a commission to promote their creation and unification. The initial goal of unification was to enable national atlases to serve as reliable sources for compiling international thematic maps and to facilitate comparative analysis in geographical research. However, due to the diversity of natural, social, and economic conditions across countries, as well as differences in the level of geographical study and national territory sizes, significant variations exist in atlas content, scales, legends, and representation methods. The article analyzes key aspects of unification, including the mathematical basis, formats, representation methods, thematic structure (such as nature, population, economy, culture, and political-administrative divisions), and the standardization of legends and cartographic indicators. Drawing on the experience of compiling the National Atlas of Cuba, the author argues that the culture section should be considered a fundamental component and discusses in detail the difficulties of unification in soil mapping, particularly the challenge of integrating different scientific schools (e.g., Russian genetic soil science and American soil series concepts) in classification and legends. The article also points out that the unification of indicators for socio-economic maps is even more complex, as countries employ different classification criteria and indicators, and data are not temporally consistent. Finally, the author proposes that under current conditions, the compilation of international thematic maps is the realistic path toward achieving more comprehensive unification of legends and cartographic indicators, rather than the reverse. International atlases should serve as a potential source for unifying the content of national atlases, but whether countries adopt these unified indicators is a purely national matter. Socio-economic phenomena are least amenable to unification, as national atlases should reflect each country's unique characteristics. International cooperation and exchange of experience can enhance scientific standards, but their role in promoting unification is limited.
By N. F. Leont'yev· Soviet Geography 15(2): 109-116
The concept of national atlas is reviewed in light of experience gained since such a specific category of cartographic production was first suggested in 1958 by K. A. Salishchev. On the basis of analysis of the structure and content of 14 atlases, a set of definitions and criteria is drawn up that would qualify an atlas as truly national. Aside from being limited to the territory of a single country, such an atlas should devote roughly 70 to 85 percent of its total space to maps of the physical environment, population and ecomnomy. The atlas content should be on a scholarly level reflecting the state of the art, for use principally as an aid in the evaluation of territory, of the production base and of manpower resources for purposes of economic and social planning. Among the principal map sections, greater weight given to economic maps is justified in highly developed, industrial countries, while more attention to the physical base tends to be given in countries where agriculture is still the basis of the nation's economy. The atlases of Colombia and Kenya devote less than 50 percent of their space to environment, population and economy and therefore would not qualify. Neither, in the author's view, does the atlas of Salvador, which allocates 68 percent of space to agriculture and only 12 percent to the physical base.
This review article examines three national or regional atlases. First, it discusses the English translation of National Atlases, a seminal work by the International Geographical Union's Commission on National and Regional Atlases, which systematically reviews the history of national atlases up to 1960 and offers detailed recommendations on cartographic methods, scale, projection, and content organization. Second, it critiques the Metrolina Atlas, which focuses on the urban region centered on Charlotte, North Carolina, covering twelve counties; the reviewer notes shortcomings in its treatment of regional interconnections, agricultural analysis, and data granularity. Third, it evaluates Character of a Conurbation: A Computer Atlas of Birmingham and The Black Country, which employed computer-generated mapping, reflecting contemporary technological advances. Together, these reviews illuminate the practices, technological developments, and scholarly standards of atlas compilation in the mid-to-late 20th century.
By R. A. Orr· The Geographical Journal 139(1): 176-177
This review discusses the monograph "National Atlases" (Cartographica Monograph No. 4), edited by G. Fremlin and L. M. Sebert, published by York University, Toronto, in 1972. It notes that the book, based on the 1960 French edition edited by Professor K. A. S. Salichtchev, serves as an authoritative guide in the field of national atlases. The new edition offers clearer and more helpful sections on mathematical foundations and content, proving valuable to prospective atlas publishers. However, despite comprehensive surveys, few countries have produced national atlases. The author emphasizes that while standardization in cartography is desirable, it should not suppress individual initiative, as the art of cartography must remain a personal endeavor.
By Н. Ф. Леонтьев· Известия Академии наук СССР. Серия географическая(4): 21–28
This article aims to define the concept of a "national atlas." It traces the evolution of this concept since its first formulation by K. A. Salishchev in 1958 and analyzes the thematic structure of 14 comprehensive atlases of various countries currently classified as national. The author argues that earlier definitions, while establishing core criteria such as comprehensiveness, territorial coverage, and capital nature, are insufficient in light of contemporary practice, particularly considering the influence of foreign assistance on atlas production in developing countries and the atlas's role in promoting national development goals. Through case studies, including atlases of Cuba, Colombia, Kenya, Tanganyika, and Australia, the article demonstrates that a true national atlas should prioritize maps depicting natural conditions, resources, population, and economy, which typically constitute 70-85% of the atlas's content. The author proposes a new set of defining criteria, emphasizing territorial scope, a comprehensive structure with a dominant focus on nature, population, and economy maps, a scientific level corresponding to contemporary knowledge, and a scientific-applied purpose serving as a tool for the country's economic and social development. The article concludes that clarifying this concept is crucial for distinguishing genuinely national atlases from those of a colonial nature or limited applicability, especially in developing countries where comprehensive mapping is vital for national progress.
This is a review of the book *National Atlases: Their History, Analysis, and Ways to Improvement and Standardization*, edited by G. Fremlin and L. M. Sebert. Originally published in French in 1960 by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the work was later translated and edited into English. The review notes that the national atlas as a new genre began with the *Atlas of Finland* in 1899 and proliferated between the world wars due to the emergence of new countries in Eastern Europe. The book is organized into three sections: historical analysis, mathematical basis, and subject matter and contents, concluding with a list of recommended map topics. The reviewer praises the work as exhaustive and a basic reference, but criticizes the twelve-year delay in English publication and the incomplete translation of some tables and figures. Overall, the book is deemed valuable for historians of cartography.
By S. J. K. Baker· Bulletin of the Society of University Cartographers 8(1): 11-12
This comment examines the role of the national atlas in cartography and its implications for school atlases and geographical education. The author highlights the national atlas as a comprehensive representation of a country's geographical knowledge, setting high cartographic standards and serving as a cultural ambassador. The paper discusses the challenges of adapting national atlas content for school use, emphasizing the need for collaboration with educators. It also questions the suitability of continental sub-regional atlases as school counterparts. Finally, the author challenges the notion that the world atlas is obsolete, arguing its continued value in providing a global framework and fostering spatial concepts.
By Brigadier M. O. Collins· Bulletin of the Society of University Cartographers 7(1): 45-46
This paper examines the role of national atlases in cartography. Traditionally, atlases served as compendiums of topographical knowledge, but over the past two decades, driven by the needs of rapidly developing countries, they have evolved to incorporate economic and social data against a topographical backdrop. This shift has made world atlases increasingly impractical due to inconsistent national statistics, thereby promoting the rise of national atlases. Concurrently, changes in geography education, emphasizing in-depth study of one's own country, have heightened the demand for simplified national atlases for schools. Despite publishers' preference for universally marketable reference books, the author argues that the trend, particularly in Southern Africa, points toward national reference books combining maps with textual and tabular data, tailored to educational levels and extending to university and planning needs.
By Tore Ouren· Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift 23(1): 33–38
This article reviews over 20 national atlases published or in preparation worldwide, focusing on their design characteristics in terms of scale selection, page format, binding methods, and textual commentary. It notes that national atlases, as comprehensive thematic cartographic works, serve not only research and education but also provide foundational material for national planning. Through comparative examples from Finland, Sweden, Britain, France, and other countries, the author examines how different national land areas and shapes influence atlas design, and specifically discusses the advantages of loose-leaf binding over bound volumes, namely the ability to publish in installments and maintain topicality. Finally, considering Norway's geographical characteristics, the article proposes specific recommendations for scale and layout in a prospective Norwegian national atlas, noting that the Norwegian National Committee for Geography has already proposed such a project, pending funding arrangements.
By Christian Clauß· Petermanns geographische Mitteilungen 112(3): 222-237
Maps of transport and tourism in 63 national atlases were analyzed in preparation for the "Atlas of the GDR," which is currently being compiled. The atlases are divided into six groups, which are described and evaluated. As a result of the analysis, the degree of complexity is determined as an index and criterion for the comparative evaluation of the traffic maps in the individual national atlases. This index is based on the application of thirteen possible methods for the cartographic representation of the accessibility of a region. The ranking of the atlases in relation to their degree of complexity is discussed, illustrated in a map, and discussed in the text. Finally, suggestions are made for further possibilities of a comparative evaluation of national atlases with regard to their maps of traffic and tourism.
By E. C. Willatts· 20th International Geographical Congress Proceedings: 197
At the Exhibition of National and Regional Atlases, Congress members examined 84 atlases from 39 countries, assembled to stimulate comparisons of thematic and technical presentation. The exhibits included previews of unpublished atlases from Czechoslovakia, Indonesia, Switzerland, the USA, and a regional atlas from Poland, alongside new map series for Australia and India. Newly completed atlases from Great Britain, Israel, France, the USA, and the USSR were shown for the first time. Countries like Cameroon, Morocco, and the Netherlands displayed published sections of their serial national atlas projects. The exhibition illustrated the work of the National Atlases Commission, where experimentation and systematization must accompany rapid production. Despite criticisms of loose-leaf serial atlases, their value was evident, as many displayed atlases could not have been completed otherwise. The wide range of themes rekindled discussions on suitable topics for national and regional atlases. Organizers expressed deep gratitude to national committees, publishers, and libraries for providing the expensive exhibits.
This document is a report of the plenary session of the Commission on National Atlases of the International Geographical Union (IGU), held in Budapest from 7 to 11 September 1962. It begins by listing the delegates in attendance, including geographers and cartographic experts from the USA, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the UK, France, India, Poland, Hungary, Morocco, the German Democratic Republic, Spain, Sweden, and the Soviet Union. The venue of the session (Hungarian Academy of Sciences) and the site and organizers of the National Atlases Exhibition are also specified. During the opening ceremony, addresses were delivered by Prof. Lajos Ligeti, Vice-President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Sándor Radó, President of the Hungarian National Committee of the IGU, emphasizing the importance of national atlases in depicting a country's natural, economic, and cultural conditions, as well as the Commission's role in coordinating compilation principles and fostering international scientific cooperation. The main body of the report comprises numerous scholarly papers covering the progress of national atlas compilation in various countries (e.g., USA, Austria, India, Poland, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Morocco, Bulgaria, Hungary, USSR, Belgium, Spain, UK), atlas updating, representation of industries, automatic plotting techniques for thematic maps, the bibliography of national atlases, legend unification, and the international 1:1,000,000 map of the world. The report concludes with the resolutions adopted by the session (in English and French) and an index of exhibited national atlases, listing representative publications from countries including Finland, France, Ghana, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, the Federal Republic of Germany, South Africa, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, El Salvador, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Tanganyika, Turkey, and the Soviet Union.
By Carleton P. Barnes· Geographical Review 52(3): 465-466
This article comprises three book reviews from the Geographical Review journal. The first reviews the collected volume Oceanography, highlighting L. H. N. Cooper's new theory on subsurface water density distribution, which proposes that ocean waters are arranged in thick layers of 'resident water' separated by shallow discontinuity layers—a concept with significant implications for deep-sea circulation, radiocarbon dating, and vertical distribution of marine life. The second reviews a Soviet monograph on national atlases, systematically elaborating the definitional criteria, compilation principles, and content classification for national atlases. The third reviews Kartografia Ekonomiczna, the first Polish work on economic cartography, introducing its classification system for economic maps and technical cartographic methods.
A complete climate section of a national atlas should contain maps, tables and graphs presenting data on climate-forming factors, the temperature regime, moisture supply, climatic regions and typical weather situations. Published national atlases are analyzed and recommendations for the treatment of climate are made. Particular importance is attached to the integrated presentation of several climatic elements on a single map. The value of climatic maps for various segments of the economy (agriculture, construction, transportation) is emphasized.
By N. V. Krasil'nikova· Soviet Geography 2(5): 33-41
This article reviews the group of geological maps in national atlases, comparing the form and content of geological-stratigraphic, tectonic, mineral-deposits, lithological-petrographic, and Quaternary-deposits maps, and offering recommendations for greater uniformity. The author notes significant variations among published atlases in the number and headings of geological maps, base-map compilation principles, representation methods, and completeness, attributing these to both natural and socio-economic conditions and subjective compilation approaches. To ensure comparability and integrated regional study, the article emphasizes the need for consistency within the geological map group and with other physical maps regarding mathematical and geographical bases, content complementarity, classification detail, and generalization degree. It discusses how stratigraphic detail varies with map scale and geological knowledge, and addresses issues of legend logic, color standardization, and international indexing. The article recommends that mineral-deposits maps be compiled at the same scale as geological maps to facilitate studying deposit distribution and structural associations. It also suggests including supplementary maps tailored to national characteristics, such as hydrogeological maps for arid countries and structural maps for platform regions, while noting the need for further work on Quaternary deposit classification and tectonic map legends.
By Juan Manuel López de Azcona· Notas y Comunicaciones del Instituto Geológico y Minero de España(61): 193–198
The various maps that should appear in a national atlas are considered, covering geology and related sciences, as well as the mineral processing industries, both in their mining and beneficiation aspects. The article is completed with some comments on the particular case of Spain.
By Т. Г. Сваткова· Вестник Московского университета(2): 27-33
This paper discusses the layout of inland water maps in national atlases. The author suggests that it is reasonable to arrange water maps compactly on two or three atlas pages, placed after the section of climatic maps. This recommendation is based on a review and analysis of various national atlases (e.g., those of the USSR, Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Australia, and India), aiming to optimize the atlas structure and enhance its systematic organization and usability.
In this article, which is part of a series on national atlases, the author makes recommendations for the selection of maps and map content to be incorporated into the atlas section devoted to the water resources of the land. She divides the maps into two major classes: maps of drainage patterns, and maps of the characteristics of stream regime.
By G. R. Crone· The Geographical Journal 127(2): 255-255
This article reviews the conceptual foundations and international comparability of national atlases. Against the backdrop of the 1961 IGU Congress in Stockholm and the work of the Commission on National Atlases, it argues that rigid uniformity in atlas compilation is impractical; instead, comparability should be achieved through scale, projection, generalization, and thematic organization. The author distinguishes between analytical approaches (e.g., mapping individual resources) and synthetic approaches (e.g., representing complex physical, economic, or social interrelations), citing the Atlas of Australian Resources and the Atlas of Canada as examples of how data availability and production contexts shape outcomes. The article also discusses Salishchev's monograph on national atlases, which criticizes the lack of maps on financial and social structures. Overall, it advocates for methodological coordination rather than standardization, aiming to enhance the scientific value and international utility of national atlases while respecting national diversity.
By В. Г. Чуркин· Известия Всесоюзного географического общества(1): 83-85
This article examines the concept of national atlases and the various approaches to their compilation across different countries. It traces the origin of the term "national atlas," clarifying its relationship with the broader concept of "complex atlas," and reviews the evolution from I.K. Kirilov's initial idea in 18th-century Russia to early practical implementations in Finland, Egypt, France, and other nations. The author focuses on the 1958 plenary session of the Commission on National Atlases under the International Geographical Union, held in Moscow and Leningrad, and identifies three main models of atlas compilation: the state-centralized planning model exemplified by the Soviet Union, the government-agency-led model seen in Belgium, and the decentralized voluntary cooperation model adopted in the United States. The article concludes that national atlases hold significant practical and scientific value for natural resource assessment and economic planning, and that different compilation approaches reflect national circumstances, with the Soviet model demonstrating notable advantages in systematic coordination.
This paper discusses the principles of compiling population maps in national atlases. The author argues that population, as society's principal productive force, should be mapped from at least four aspects: population numbers and density, settlement geography, socio-economic characteristics, and ethnographic characteristics. Through an analysis of existing atlases, it is noted that most national atlases tend to favor strictly demographic features while neglecting the socio-economic aspects. The article proposes a minimum set of population maps and discusses how their content should vary between countries with different socio-economic systems, such as capitalist and socialist states. It also addresses the logical placement of these maps within the atlas structure. The author emphasizes that a comprehensive and integrated treatment of all population aspects is essential for the scientific and practical value of any national atlas.
By Н. С. Виноградова· Вестник Московского университета(1): 43-48
This article discusses the principles and methods of compiling agricultural maps in comprehensive national atlases. It first points out that agricultural maps occupy a significant place in national atlases, and their content is influenced by factors such as the social system, the level of development of productive forces, and the degree of study of the mapped territory. The author classifies agricultural maps into three categories: maps of agrarian relations, maps of productive forces in agriculture, and maps of the location and scale of agricultural production, and elaborates on the key points of compiling each category. The article emphasizes that the compilation of agricultural maps should focus on reflecting the dynamics of agricultural production, adopt cartographic methods that truly reflect geographical distribution patterns (such as the dot method and improved cartograms), and maintain coordination with other thematic maps (nature, population, industry, etc.). Finally, the author recommends that the agricultural map section be supplemented with textual explanations, diagrams, and photographs.
By N. S. Vinogradova· Soviet Geography 1(9): 56-61
This paper discusses the compilation standards for agricultural maps in national atlases, emphasizing that such maps should be accompanied by explanatory text, diagrams, photographs, and references to methodology and data sources. It cites numerous national and agricultural atlases published between the 1930s and 1950s, including the Atlas of the Belorussian SSR, the Great Soviet World Atlas, the Atlas de Belgique, and the Atlas of American Agriculture, as reference examples. Additionally, the paper includes a translated excerpt by A. I. Spiridonov on geomorphic mapping abroad, noting that several countries have produced general geomorphic maps at medium and small scales (1:500,000 and smaller) based on existing textual and cartographic materials, commonly found in regional geomorphic monographs, articles, and atlases. The aim is to provide cartographers with international experience to enhance the standardization and scientific rigor of agricultural and geomorphic thematic mapping.
By И. Н. Гусева· Вестник Московского университета(6): 26-32
This article aims to formulate basic principles for constructing climate map sections in complex national atlases, based on an analysis of their content and potential applications in scientific and practical work. It notes that climate maps occupy a significant place (typically 20-50%) in the nature sections of such atlases, needing to fulfill both scientific and practical requirements. The author argues that within a limited space (usually 30-40 maps), the climate section should focus on reflecting the interrelations between climate and other natural landscape components, comparability with other atlas maps, internal connections among climatic elements, and the dynamics of climatic indicators. To achieve this, combined mapping methods for multiple elements and appropriate selection of geographic bases and scales are recommended. The article details four main content groups: climate-forming factor maps, temperature regime maps, moisture condition maps, and a synthesizing climatic regionalization map, supplemented by typical weather maps, diagrams, and text. It concludes by emphasizing the need to ensure comparability both within the atlas and with other national atlases, allowing for flexible adjustments based on specific national conditions.
By Н. В. Красильникова· Вестник Московского университета(3): 30-36
The article examines the compilation of geological map groups in national atlases. It notes significant differences among published atlases in the number, content, legend principles, and representation methods of geological maps, which hinder international comparison. Based on an analysis of atlases from several countries (e.g., Belgium, Italy, France, the USSR), the author systematically reviews the current state and problems of key map types, including geological, tectonic, mineral resource, lithological-petrographic, and Quaternary deposit maps. The article emphasizes the need to unify legend principles, coordinate scales, and standardize representation methods to ensure map comparability and facilitate comprehensive territorial studies. Finally, it offers specific recommendations for improving the content and design of geological map groups, such as adopting a unified stratigraphic legend, strengthening the linkage between tectonic and mineral maps, and adding auxiliary maps based on national geological characteristics, aiming to provide a scientific basis for enhancing national atlases.
By А. И. Преображенский· Известия высших учебных заведений. Геодезия и аэрофотосъемка(3): 113–123
This article examines the principles, thematic structure, and cartographic methods appropriate for representing industry in comprehensive national atlases. Drawing on examples from the Great Soviet World Atlas and national or economic atlases of the Byelorussian SSR, France, Italy, and Czechoslovakia, the author demonstrates that existing atlases differ markedly in the space devoted to industry, the balance between general and sectoral maps, the degree of thematic detail, and the techniques used to depict industrial location. To improve scientific consistency and permit international comparison, the article advocates a systematic yet adaptable framework. The number of industrial maps should depend on a country’s level of industrialization, diversity of production, economic characteristics, and the overall scale and design of the atlas. An industrially advanced country might require sixty or more maps, although these need not occupy an equal number of sheets because full spreads, partial pages, inset maps, and varying scales can be combined. The industrial section should be divided into two broad groups: general industrial maps and maps of individual sectors. General maps should portray the distribution and agglomeration of industrial centers, historical stages of industrial development, the territorial intensity of industrialization, social ownership, foreign-capital participation, enterprise concentration, unemployment, mechanization, electrification, labor productivity, new construction, and the sectoral composition of industrial centers. A principal national map should represent every significant industrial center with continuously scaled proportional symbols based on a consistent indicator, preferably the value of fixed assets or industrial employment, while transport networks, hydrography, administrative boundaries, and enlarged insets provide geographic context. Historical map series should combine dates important to each country with internationally standardized benchmark years, thereby revealing industrial growth and spatial change over time. Sectoral maps should show extraction, processing, transportation, productive capacity, output, technological linkages, and facilities under construction or in planning. More than forty proposed themes encompass electric power; petroleum and gas; coal, peat, and shale; ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy; several branches of machinery production; inorganic and organic chemicals; construction materials; forestry, woodworking, pulp, and paper; printing; textiles and other light industries; and numerous food-processing branches. Particular attention is given to energy maps, which should connect generating facilities and fuel bases with transmission systems and major consumers. The author stresses that the proposed inventory is not a rigid universal template: maps may be omitted, combined, expanded, or subdivided according to national economic conditions. The resulting reference scheme—twenty-five general themes and forty sectoral themes—is intended to provide a comprehensive account of industrial history, spatial organization, internal structure, production relationships, and future development while enhancing the comparability and practical value of national atlases.
By О. А. Евтеев· Вестник Московского университета(4): 20-25
This article examines the compilation of population maps within comprehensive national atlases. The author argues that depicting the geographical distribution and characteristics of the population, as society's primary productive force, is a central task of such atlases, particularly for countries with planned economies. The paper systematically outlines four fundamental aspects of population characterization: demographic (size, natural and mechanical movement, sex-age structure), socio-economic (social class and occupational composition, labor participation, living conditions), ethnographic (ethnic composition, language, culture, anthropological differences), and settlement geography (distribution and types of settlements). Through an analysis of numerous atlas examples, the author notes that most atlases overemphasize demographic and ethnographic features while socio-economic aspects are commonly neglected. Early Soviet atlases (e.g., the Moscow Oblast Atlas) provided a good model but this approach was not continued. The article proposes a minimum set of four core map types for the population section and discusses thematic differences between countries with different social systems, as well as the placement of population maps within the atlas and the necessity of accompanying explanatory text. It concludes that only a balanced and comprehensive representation of all population dimensions ensures the scientific and practical value of the atlas as an integrated work.
By Miroslav Blažek· Abstracts of Papers, International Geographical Congress, Norden 1960: 28-29
This paper addresses the compilation of industrial maps in national atlases, drawing on the experience of the Atlas of Czechoslovakia. It examines base maps for industrial location, the distinction between geographical and administrative-statistical units, international industrial classification, and the mapping of economic-geographical relations. Geographical units should be based on population distribution and production concentration, and may be merged by functional unity and spatial proximity. Industrial classification should adopt international categories such as energy, mining, engineering, and chemicals, rather than geographical ones. Mapping economic relations risks overcrowding; the Soviet regional atlas method, though effective, is limited to planned economies. The paper concludes that a uniform base is essential for international comparability and peace.
By L. D. S.· Scottish Geographical Magazine 76(3): 185-186
This is an academic review of K. A. Salichtchev's work "National Atlases: History, Analysis, Paths of Improvement and Unification," published by the USSR Academy of Sciences Press in 1960. The book systematically examines the status of national atlases in sixteen countries, including Finland, the Soviet Union, Egypt, Czechoslovakia, Italy, India, Canada, Australia, Sweden, France, the United States, Morocco, Poland, and Israel. Based on this analysis, it offers detailed critiques and recommendations concerning atlas content selection, projection choices, and format design. The review notes that this report, as a key output of the IGU Commission on National Atlases, provides timely and practical reference value for atlas projects in many countries, including Scotland, and recommends reading it in conjunction with relevant Polish Academy of Sciences literature.
By Ш. Радо; Т. Бермат· Известия Академии наук СССР. Серия географическая(6): 135–146
This article examines the role of national atlases in the national economies of socialist countries, with a particular focus on the place of economic-geographic maps within them. It begins by noting that a key task of modern geographical sciences is the comprehensive study of nature, population, and economy, with economic geography's core mission being the study of the geographical distribution of social production. Under socialist planned economies, scientifically addressing issues related to production location, the optimal conditions for various industries and enterprises, and the integrated development of regional economies holds significant practical importance. Economic-geographic maps and atlases are identified as the most suitable format for presenting research results, making them accessible and useful for the national economy. The article criticizes the contemporary practice where most atlases were mere collections of statistical cartograms, failing to demonstrate the interconnections between geographical phenomena. Citing the 1958 'Atlas of the Byelorussian SSR' as a positive example, the author praises its innovative methods in complex economic-geographic mapping, which successfully depicted the economic characteristics of various regions. The discussion then turns to the practical application of such maps in planning, noting a historical dominance of sectoral planning over regional approaches, with the latter gaining increasing importance. Finally, the article underscores the necessity of economic cooperation among socialist countries, particularly within the framework of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON). The author argues that coordinated national atlases would greatly facilitate the assessment of natural and economic resources, aiding in the coordination of production plans, deepening international specialization, and rationalizing the distribution of productive forces. The article concludes by proposing the establishment of a coordinating commission to unify the themes, legends, scales, and cartographic methods of national atlases, thereby laying the groundwork for a future comprehensive international atlas of the socialist camp, serving the common developmental goals of these nations.
Based on the practical experience of the Soviet Union in compiling large-scale comprehensive national atlases, this paper systematically discusses the key issues in the compilation of national atlases. It first emphasizes the significance of comprehensive atlases in reflecting a country's natural, economic, and social characteristics, and points out that the core task of editorial work lies in revealing the interrelations among various phenomena. The paper then elaborates on the main components of editorial preparation, including the formulation of a general plan, collection and processing of cartographic materials, experimental work, determination of technological procedures, staff training, and scientific-technical summarization. It highlights the importance of collective leadership by an editorial committee, collaboration among multiple institutions, and systematic data collection. Specific methods are proposed to unify symbols and colors through experimental work and to reduce costs by optimizing printing processes. Finally, it concludes that timely scientific-technical summaries serve as valuable references for accumulating experience and improving the quality of future cartographic works.
By G. R. Crone· Maps and Their Makers: An Introduction to the History of Cartography: 169–170
National atlases emerged as a significant development in cartography, systematically presenting the physical and human geography of individual countries. Early examples were often produced by young nations or those with strong national sentiment, such as the Atlas of Scotland (1895) and the Atlas of Finland. Comprehensive national atlases followed in Canada, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union, covering topography, climate, geology, population, and economic activities. Effectively representing population distribution remained challenging: the dot method proved arbitrary at small scales, while layer-colouring of density zones was generally preferred. Although Britain possessed the necessary materials—compiled by the Ordnance Survey at 1:625,000—no official national atlas had yet been published. During the war, innovative projections like Harrison's orthographic 'Look at the World' promoted a spherical worldview, reflecting the transformative impact of aviation on geographical perception.
By Javier Enrique Somoza· Revista Cartográfica(1): 107-114
This article examines the necessity and feasibility of producing national atlases (Atlas Nacional) for American countries, highlighting the significant deficiencies in current American cartography and the urgent need for official publications that accurately reflect each nation's geographical and historical reality. It proposes a systematic organizational and implementation framework, including the establishment of a central coordinating body (such as a National Atlas Commission), a division of labor among official, autonomous, and private sectors, and principles for arranging historical and geographical content. The article also addresses supplementary materials (e.g., statistical data, gazetteers, photographs) and financing challenges, and advocates for the compilation of a 'Great Atlas of America' (Gran Atlas de América) under the coordination of the Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) to foster regional cooperation and cultural advancement.
This report reviews significant volumes of maps representing twenty-six nations and territories. A national atlas aims at the cartographical representation of the physical, biogeographical, economic, cultural and political features of a national territory. Several of the works include descriptive texts in one or more languages and gazetteers. Canada, France, Italy and Russia are represented in the report, but it has been the smaller countries such as Czechoslovakia, Belgian Congo, Indonesia, Denmark and Switzerland that have produced outstanding atlases.
Looking for studies on a specific country? Country-specific literature is listed on each national atlas page.
