Book Review Section: National Atlas of Hungary Vol. 2: Natural Environment

Summary

This is an academic book review of Volume 2 (Natural Environment) of the new National Atlas of Hungary, published in 2018. As the first released volume of a planned four-part series, it was edited by leading scholars from the Geographical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and is available in both Hungarian and English editions. The review highlights that this atlas continues Hungary's notable post-WWII tradition of producing national atlases, and its compilation involved the country's foremost experts in geography and cartography. The volume comprises 13 chapters, covering traditional physical geography topics such as geology, geophysics, relief, climate, and hydrology, while placing increased emphasis on flora, fauna, nature conservation, and landscape ecology compared to its predecessors. The reviewer praises the atlas's excellent cartographic design and its deliberate effort to contextualize Hungary within the broader Carpatho-Pannonian region and Europe, rather than presenting it in isolation. While noting minor issues like certain toponymic choices and the placement of author credits, the review concludes that the atlas successfully integrates the functions of maps, explanatory texts, and photographs, effectively serving as a comprehensive modern regional geography, and expresses strong anticipation for the forthcoming volumes.