Book reviews: Atlas of Poland

Summary

The review describes the first three instalments of Atlas Polski, issued in Warsaw in 1953–1954 by the Central Office of Geodesy and Cartography and the State Cartographic Publishing Enterprise, each containing six sheets. The multicolour atlas alternates full-sheet maps with maps confined to the mapped territory, uses varying scales, mostly 1:2 million, and supplies a detailed water network on most sheets. Issue I covers historical maps, political divisions, soils, geology, geomorphology and gravity. Issue II covers elevation, hydrography, plant geography, flora and vegetation, forests and zoogeography; the reviewer singles out W. Szafer's plant-geographical overview as one of the richest maps in content. Issue III presents climate maps, including temperature, precipitation and pressure for six selected months, and typical weather situations from 1949–1952; E. Romer prepared the first two synthesis sheets. Because the published instalments provide no overview of the atlas's overall structure, the reviewer withholds a general judgment but considers the work in progress worthy of the geographical profession's attention.