Geographical Reviews: Atlas de Colombia

Summary

This review evaluates the Atlas de Colombia, published in 1967 by the Instituto Geografico Agustin Codazzi under the editorship of Eduardo Acevedo Latorre. The atlas contains 190 plates covering historical cartography, natural environment, and economic-demographic aspects. Despite its beautiful production and rich content, approximately half of the plates are illustrative rather than thematic maps, and the 1964 census data are not incorporated, making it more suitable for the general public than for research-oriented geographers. The review criticizes specific maps, such as the misleading population density map and poor forest map, and concludes that while the atlas succeeds as a pictorial interpretation for the public, it falls short as a spatial analysis of Colombia's geography.