Introduction to Foreign Atlases: The Soviet World Natural Atlas

Summary

The article introduces the Soviet Physical-Geographic Atlas of the World (《世界自然地图集》), published in 1964 after ten years of preparation. It contains over 260 pages of color maps and about 45 pages of explanatory text. Its three parts cover the natural environments of the world, including both polar regions; the six continents; and the Soviet Union. The global section includes terrestrial and marine relief, geology, geomorphology, climate, ocean conditions, inland waters, soils, vegetation, fauna, and natural landscapes; the continental and Soviet sections present regional physical characteristics. The author describes the maps as reflecting a new stage in physical geography and new results in its specialist fields, and reports the high assessment given to the atlas in the Soviet Union.