First issue of the national atlas of the Republic of Austria

Summary

This article reviews the first issue of the National Atlas of the Republic of Austria, published in 1961. Compiled by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the atlas is planned for publication in five issues, containing 85 main maps at a scale of 1:1,000,000 and 140 smaller-scale maps, organized into 12 thematic sections covering nature, population, economy, and culture. The first issue comprises 19 map sheets, predominantly socio-economic maps, supplemented by climatic and topographic maps. The article provides a detailed analysis of cartographic methods, projection choice (Albers equal-area conic projection), content representation, and the atlas's strengths and weaknesses, noting omissions of certain physical geographic elements (e.g., tectonics, wind patterns) while praising its print quality and color design. Additionally, the text briefly discusses H.K. Mihal's views on the accuracy of vertical deflections and astro-gravimetric leveling, addressing theoretical issues in geodesy.