Reviews: National atlas of Brazil

Summary

Aage Aagesen reviews the ongoing publication of Atlas Nacional do Brasil by the Conselho Nacional de Geografia, presenting it as a means of making Brazilian geographical research accessible. Publication of its first part, Parte Geral, began in November 1963; the regional part, covering six regions, was expected from January 1966. The general part covers political, physical, demographic, economic and socio-cultural geography and Brazil’s international position. Its loose-leaf maps are accompanied by explanatory texts, diagrams, tables, profiles and supplementary maps; national overview maps commonly use 1:10,000,000. Aagesen illustrates the available sheets through bioclimatic and Köppen climate maps, occupational population dots, agricultural production maps and transport maps. He praises their clear, well-chosen colours and readable presentation, and regards the atlas as a much-needed source of geographical knowledge about Brazil, with broader relevance to tropical regions.