Kenya肯尼亚

This review assesses the Atlas of Kenya (1959), modelled on the Atlas of Tanganyika and published by the Survey of Kenya at an opportune moment. The atlas features looseleaf binding, large-format maps of the whole country at 1:3,000,000, provincial maps at 1:1,000,000, twenty town plans, and historical maps dating from 1564 to 1856. While praising its design, legibility, and cartographic quality, the reviewer suggests improvements in the agricultural and communications maps and notes the inadequacy of population mapping, recommending additional maps illustrating population structure and racial composition. Although too expensive for most school libraries, the atlas is considered an essential reference for students of Kenya's geography, and the Survey of Kenya is warmly congratulated for this excellent production.

This review introduces the first edition of the Atlas of Kenya, published in 1959 by the Survey of Kenya under the direction of R.J. Butler and edited by B.A. McArthur-Davis. The atlas contains 45 clearly produced plates that maintain a high standard of cartography. It covers physical and human geography, as well as administrative maps at provincial scale (1:1M) and thematic maps (1:3M) based on government and research data. A notable section reproduces early maps, including Erhardt and Rebmann’s 1856 maps that marked the beginning of European exploration. The atlas is a valuable resource for geographers and historical geography researchers.

The Atlas of Kenya, compiled by the Survey of Kenya, contains 40 coloured plates along with historical maps and a gazetteer, systematically presenting the geography, administrative divisions, economic resources, and exploration history of Kenya. The review notes that provincial maps are at 1:1M scale while most national maps use 1:3M, with excellent colour registration and printing, though some strong colour combinations are criticized. The exploration map is particularly highlighted, honouring early pioneers such as Krapf, Stanley, and others. Overall, the atlas is a comprehensive and valuable reference on Kenya.

Ena L. Yonge

This article is a comprehensive review of regional atlases, written by Ena L. Yonge. The author begins by noting that, given the ever-increasing flood of atlases from around the world, individual reviews of each publication are impossible; therefore, a summary survey is adopted. She also stresses that no single reviewer can be sufficiently expert in all aspects of geography, cartography, and linguistics to render sound critical judgments. The roughly one hundred regional atlases discussed are grouped primarily by continent or large region and then arranged alphabetically by country. In the European section, the author evaluates national and thematic atlases from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, and other countries, covering topics such as road transport, historical geography, climate, population, economy, and land use. She comments in detail on cartographic quality, scales, printing techniques, and practical utility. For example, the Austrian national atlas, directed by Hans Bobek and Erik Arnberger under the Commission for Land Planning of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, was published in five annual parts and demonstrates excellent cartography and printing. The Atlas de Belgique and the Atlas du Survey National supplement each other with plates on hydrogeology, phytogeography, agriculture, basic industries, waterways, and railways. The Climatic Atlas of Czechoslovakia is praised for its beautiful large-scale maps of temperature and precipitation. The article then turns to North America, focusing on state atlases in the United States, including Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. These atlases cover agriculture, forestry, economic resources, historical geography, and population, often compiled by universities or state agencies for educational and planning purposes. In the South American section, the author highlights notable publications such as the Atlas do Brasil, the Atlas de economía colombiana, and Venezuelan climatic and forest atlases. Throughout the review, the author acknowledges the scholarly value and cartographic achievements of many works while also pointing out occasional problems such as overly large formats or inappropriate scales. Overall, the article provides a broad and informative reference guide to regional atlases for scholars in geography, cartography, and related fields.

K. Kuchař

This paper reviews the second edition of the Atlas of Kenya, compiled, drawn, and printed by the Survey of Kenya and published in Nairobi in 1962. While retaining the original sheet format of the first edition (1959), all maps were revised and several new ones added, including a population map based on the 1962 census. The loose-leaf binding allows for the insertion of additional sheets, making it a permanent atlas capable of tracking changes in repeatedly depicted phenomena. Thematic maps are predominantly at a scale of 1:3,000,000, while hypsometric maps of the southern provinces (6 sheets) are at 1:1,000,000. Larger-scale maps cover the Nairobi district and 18 towns. The atlas covers a wide range of topics, including climate, hydrology, geology, soils, vegetation, agriculture, industry, transport, ethnography, health, and education, and also includes historical expedition maps and reproductions of old maps. The cartographic methods employed are areal, signature, and absolute dot methods, without the use of cartograms or diagrammatic maps. Overall, the atlas is comprehensive, well-produced, and geographically valuable as a compendium of information on the country.

David N. Siriba; Daniel O. Nyangweso

National atlases synthesize a country's spatial knowledge through maps and textual descriptions. The three East African countries—Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—gained independence around the same period and, with support from the British Directorate of Overseas Surveys, produced their first national atlases within a similar timeframe. However, these atlases have not been revised for decades. This paper reviews the historical development of national atlases in the three countries, examines the reasons for their stagnation, and discusses the implications of paradigm shifts including web mapping, Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). The analysis shows that delayed updates of topographic base maps, the ability of individual government departments to publish their own thematic atlases, and the growing availability of geospatial data through SDI and VGI have diminished the perceived relevance of official national atlases. Nevertheless, despite the still-low level of SDI development in East Africa, SDI and VGI offer a promising opportunity to revive the national atlas. The authors recommend that these countries move from printed products to online dynamic electronic atlases and conduct user-centered studies on interface and content design, thereby repositioning the national atlas within the modern geospatial ecosystem.