The National Atlas of Brazil

Summary

This review evaluates the Atlas Nacional do Brasil, first published in 1966 by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The loose-leaf atlas contains about sixty maps covering political, physical, demographic, socio-cultural and economic themes. Its cartography is generally high-quality and innovative. Based largely on the 1960 census, it is somewhat dated. The review praises the comprehensive coverage of agriculture, trade and regional disparities, but criticizes unclear classifications, over-reduced insets, and weak treatment of manufacturing. Overall, the atlas provides a valuable portrait of mid-1960s Brazil, revealing the concentration of economic activity in the Southeast, though its technical complexity limits general readership.