Remarks on the subject of national atlases for developing countries

Summary

The paper reviews the necessity for improved map-user orientation in production of National Atlases in developing countries. The low level of knowledge of geography and mathematics causes by the average atlas user difficulties in understanding and use of maps in his office or education-related activities. Not only the signs and colours should be adjusted to the "customs" of each country, but also the scales should be easily understandable, and comparable with other thematic maps in the atlas. The topics presented should be characteristic and relevant to the country in question. Changes of administrative boundaries and urban systems should be marked. The relatively recent gaining of independence by these countries forces us to pay some attention also to historical, geopolitical and geoeconomic factors, and to show the three stages of pre-colonial, colonial and independent periods. Presentation of absolute figures should be made clearer. Geographical name changes, as well as local-geographical definitions or products names, should receive more attention.