Le centenaire du premier atlas national au monde : l'Atlas de Finlande//The centenary of the world's first national atlas : Atlas of Finland

Summary

This article reviews the centenary development of the Atlas of Finland, the world's first national atlas. Published in 1899 by the Geographical Society of Finland, this pioneering work was awarded a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition for its innovative use of thematic maps to systematically present the country's geography. The article traces the evolution of six editions from 1899 to 1999, analyzing changes in content, technology, and language, and examining how the atlas reflected Finland's political and social transformation from an autonomous Grand Duchy under the Russian Empire to an independent nation. Furthermore, it compares the publication of national atlases in other Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway), highlighting Finland's pioneering role and underscoring the high level of the Finnish geographical school and its profound influence on the development of cartography worldwide.