Review of the great world atlas

Summary

This review examines the Atlas Mira, edited by A. N. Baranov and published in Moscow in 1954, describing its organization, allocation of map scales, and cartographic representation. A. A. Grigoryev and N. F. Leontyev endorse the organization of regional general-reference maps around physical regions and the provision of larger-scale maps for important areas. They praise its detailed depiction of relief, hydrography, settlements, transport routes, and administrative boundaries. Particular attention is given to the incorporation of recent mapping and survey data and to bathymetric contours informed by seafloor geomorphology, which clearly depict continental shelves, slopes, submarine ranges, and basins. The reviewers observe that the maps reveal relationships between terrestrial and submarine relief, while interpretations of landform development require additional evidence. Shortcomings include small gaps in regional coverage, reduced readability on a few maps, and outdated political and administrative information resulting from prolonged printing. They recommend update inserts accompanying the separately planned place-name index. Overall, they highly value the atlas as a geographical reference and a resource for scientific and practical geographical problems.