L'Atlas de Madagascar

Summary

Initiated in 1964 by the geography laboratory of the University of Tananarive, the Atlas of Madagascar was designed to provide a systematic account of the island’s physical and human geography. Scheduled for completion by the end of 1970, it comprises sixty maps organized into seven sections: physical, human, and rural geography; industrial resources and activities; transport and communications; public facilities; and regional synthesis. Its first installment was produced through the collaboration of approximately forty university scholars, engineers, and cartographic specialists. Each plate is supplemented by standardized notes documenting sources and mapping methods, often with statistical tables and graphs. Most maps use a 1:4,000,000 scale and a loose-leaf format, enabling comparison through a transparent location overlay. Combining scientific rigor with practical design, the atlas constitutes both an accessible working instrument and an important reference on a previously understudied country.