Peru

Richard W. Stephenson

This article reviews significant atlases published in the Western Hemisphere (including North America, South America, and Central America and the Caribbean) since Ena L. Yonge's summary survey in 1962. The survey is divided into two parts, with this part focusing on the Western Hemisphere, covering 147 volumes of general and thematic atlases of the entire hemisphere, continents, major regions, and individual countries, as well as atlases of individual states and provinces of the United States and Canada. Notable atlases mentioned include the 'Alpha Map Transparencies' series for teaching regional geography, Theodore R. Miller's 'Graphic History of the Americas,' David K. Adams and H. B. Rodgers' 'An Atlas of North American Affairs,' and the 'Oxford Regional Economic Atlas: United States & Canada.' The Canadian section details the fourth edition of 'The National Atlas of Canada,' the 'Atlas and Gazetteer of Canada,' historical atlases, and the 'Atlas of Alberta.' The South American section covers atlases from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela, such as the 'Atlas nacional do Brasil,' 'Atlas histórico geográfico y de paisajes peruanos,' and 'Atlas de Venezuela.' The article aims to describe the contents and features of these atlases rather than provide critical evaluations, and concludes by suggesting that the next decade may see an increase in the production of high-quality atlases by Western Hemisphere nations.

Harold Blakemore

This review assesses the Atlas Historico, Geografico, y de Paisajes Peruanos, edited by Carlos Penaherrera del Aguila and published by Peru's Instituto Nacional de Planificación in 1970. Compiled over seven years with extensive collaboration from scholars and institutions, it stands as the most comprehensive cartographic collection on Peru of its generation. The 731-page atlas is organized into five sections: historical cartography, contemporary Peru, detailed maps of all 24 departments, frontier regions, and landscape photographs. Despite its bulky dimensions (90 × 42 cm), the design permits removal of individual maps for practical use. The reviewer praises its accuracy, detail, and clarity, while recommending periodic updates of time-sensitive data, particularly in economic and social geography, to maintain its enduring reference value.

Alfonso Gonzalez

The Atlas del Perú, edited by Dr. Carlos Peñaherrera del Aguila and sponsored by the Ministry of Defense and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional, is a comprehensive encyclopedic national atlas that updates and replaces the earlier 1963–70 edition. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, physical geography, economy, population, urban development, health, desertification, and Peruvian activities in Antarctica, supported by numerous maps, photographs, satellite images, tables, and extensive text, along with a place-name index. Despite its rich content and impressive detail, the atlas suffers from organizational flaws, such as scattered related materials and occasional misplaced sections. Overall, it constitutes a significant and valuable reference for understanding Peru, offering both academic and practical utility.

Robert B. Kent

This article reviews and evaluates six recently published national atlases from Latin America, including the Atlas de Colombia (4th edition), Atlas Nacional de México (3 volumes), Nuevo Atlas Nacional de Cuba, Atlas de Perú, Atlas Nacional de la República de Panamá, and Atlas de Bolivia. The article first defines the criteria for a 'national atlas': it must be produced under the auspices or with the approval of the national government, aim to provide broad thematic coverage of the nation, and be produced to high intellectual and cartographic standards for scholarly research. It then provides detailed assessments of each atlas, covering physical specifications, organizational structure, thematic content, cartographic quality, and strengths and weaknesses. The Atlas Nacional de México is particularly praised for its monumental scale, rich thematic coverage, and fine cartography, though it is noted for overly complex symbols and lack of an index. The Nuevo Atlas Nacional de Cuba is recognized as a continuation of Cuba's strong cartographic tradition, demonstrating extensive collaboration and high production quality. Other atlases show varying strengths in thematic breadth and presentation but commonly suffer from vague citations, lack of general bibliographies, or missing indexes. The article concludes that while the quality of these atlases ranges from outstanding to barely acceptable, all serve as valuable reference sources for Latin American studies, with environmental, cultural, and historical content retaining long-term utility, and recommends their acquisition by university libraries with relevant programs.