Présentation de nouvelles planches de l'Atlas de France

Summary

This article presents the design principles and methods adopted for several new plates of the second edition of the Atlas de France, published by the French National Committee of Geography. The author observes that while the geographical facts themselves have changed only moderately since the first edition, cartographers' ways of perceiving and representing these phenomena have undergone profound transformations. Consequently, the new edition goes beyond simple updating and involves the complete redesign of many human geography plates. Using examples such as the geological map, population structure map, population distribution map, agricultural land-use map, and energy map, the article illustrates a range of innovative cartographic techniques: superimposing lithological symbols on geological maps to complement stratigraphic information; using statistical frequency curves to determine class intervals on population maps; employing dot-distribution methods combined with three-dimensional symbols for urban areas; differentiating crop types through color-coded and shape-varied symbols on agricultural maps; and introducing, for the first time, a comprehensive map of national energy resources, conversion facilities, and transmission networks. The author emphasizes that these innovations not only enhance the informational capacity and legibility of maps but also reflect broader theoretical and methodological advances in cartography.