Geographical Reviews: The National Atlas of the United States of America

Summary

This review examines the two major national atlases published in 1970: The National Atlas of the United States of America, edited by Arch C. Gerlach, and the National Atlas of Cuba, a joint Cuban-Soviet project. The U.S. atlas, an ambitious compilation involving dozens of agencies, contains general reference maps and extensive special-subject maps arranged from physical through economic and socio-cultural themes. The reviewers commend the atlas's technical excellence, innovative cartographic design, and effective use of color and typography, particularly in the physical maps. They also, however, criticize the lack of a coherent conceptual framework linking the sections, noting a traditional assumption that physical environment determines human activities. The economic section, while rich in maps, suffers from uneven treatment—agriculture receives disproportionate attention, while comprehensive maps of the entire economy and service activities are missing. The reviewers doubt the atlas's practical influence on national planning, contending that it functions more as a monumental self-portrait of the nation than as an operational tool. The Cuban atlas, published in Spanish and Russian, is structured as homage to the tenth anniversary of the Revolution. It combines maps and explanatory text to present the country's physical geography, economy, population, and social development, with explicit emphasis on socialist achievements, including new industrial installations since 1959. The review concludes by reflecting on the purpose of national atlases: they reveal both national aspirations and the conservatism of geographical scholarship, and the U.S. atlas, despite its flaws, remains an essential resource for geographers and a stimulus to further research.