Some Recent Regional Atlases: A Review

Summary

This review examines sixteen noteworthy general and topical regional atlases published during the past decade, representing eleven countries. It applies the Wright-Platt classification of atlases, distinguishing between general regional and topical regional works. The atlases discussed include French thematic volumes on viticulture, textiles, peat bogs, and hydroelectric power, as well as national and regional atlases from Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, Tanganyika, India, Australia, and Brazil. The review assesses their organization, cartographic quality, editorial collaboration, and scholarly utility. It finds that such specialized atlases serve primarily researchers and serious users, and that many reflect the growing practical needs of regional planning, resource appraisal, and national self-knowledge. The cooperative production of the Atlas of Denmark is singled out as exemplary, while the rainfall atlas of Brazil fills an important gap in South American climatic studies. The review concludes that regional atlases make significant contributions to geographical scholarship and inter-institutional collaboration.