Nationalatlanten: Vorschläge zu ihrer vervollkommnung

Summary

National atlases are comprehensive geographical atlases of individual countries, summarizing and evaluating current scientific knowledge of a country's physical, economic, and political geography. Their history dates back to the publication of the Atlas of Finland in 1899. This article by Prof. Dr. Konstantin A. Salishchev from Moscow systematically reviews the development of national atlases, from early works between the World Wars (such as those of Finland, Egypt, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, Italy, and France) to their vigorous global expansion after World War II, listing numerous atlases published or in preparation across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia. The article argues that national atlases are not only a concentrated expression of geographical achievements but also a driving force for the discipline's own progress, revealing knowledge gaps and fostering interdisciplinary connections. However, the author critically identifies shortcomings in existing atlases, including insufficient attention to practical needs, uneven quality across major sections, incomplete thematic coverage, neglect of significant topics, inconsistencies or contradictions between overlapping maps, and flaws in generalization and indicator selection. The article concludes with a detailed set of recommendations for improving national atlases, covering natural conditions, population, economy, transportation, trade, finance, culture, health, and political structure, with differentiated thematic proposals for capitalist and socialist countries, aiming to enhance their scientific rigor, practicality, and completeness for better service in national planning, resource development, and cultural advancement.