The landscape maps of the National atlas of Cuba, 60th anniversary

Summary

The authors explain the conceptual basis, compilation methods and content of the anthroponatural landscape, cultural landscape and geographic regionalization maps in the Nature Characterization section of Atlas Nacional de Cuba: LX Aniversario (2019), all at 1:1,000,000. Drawing on Sauer’s natural/cultural landscape conception and a systemic approach, they use regional and microregional descriptions, mapping and bibliographic analysis documented in the unpublished Regiones y Paisajes Geográficos de Cuba. Localities, or microregions, underpin their distinction between individual regional units and recurring landscape types. Compared with the 1989 atlas, the 2019 treatment separates anthroponatural and cultural landscapes and extends regionalization to include cultural appropriation of the natural environment. The anthroponatural map combines relief, geology, lithology, vegetation, soils and geoecological factors in a revised classification covering plains, mountain systems and the insular shelf. Land use is addressed through the cultural landscape map, which classifies each locality by predominant uses, spatial organization, visual character and symbolic features into 11 main types with subtypes. The regionalization map presents a hierarchy ending in 73 regions and groups regions into 19 types using natural and cultural landscapes, resources, population, settlements and heritage value. The authors describe the maps as general scientific models offering holistic, field-based and multiscalar perspectives, and propose their use for environmental assessment and territorial planning. They recommend more detailed nationwide mapping and research into landscape structure, functioning and dynamics.