Magyarország Nemzeti Atlaszáról

Summary

This paper provides a comprehensive academic review of the National Atlas of Hungary (MNA). The authors state that the publication of the atlas is a major event in Hungarian scientific life, integrating multiple disciplines and providing valuable resources for both science and practice. The atlas was prepared over approximately eight years of focused work, initiated and coordinated by the State Office of Surveying and Mapping, with significant government support. Its scientific foundation lay in the development of Hungarian geography up to the mid-1960s, while its practical conditions were ensured by the high standard of Hungarian cartography and the demand from administrative and planning bodies for diverse information processing. The atlas was produced by the Cartographic Enterprise with the active participation of experts from 17 scientific and practical institutions. The authors emphasize that the atlas fulfills the task of presenting the country's natural, economic, social, and cultural conditions through high-quality maps, fostering a complex spatial perspective and holding significant science policy importance. It also serves as a vital tool for cultural education, international information, and national economic planning. Structurally, the atlas contains around 400 maps, with socio-economic maps forming the majority (approx. 68-70%), aligning with international practice and domestic needs. Despite its clear structure and comprehensive content, the authors identify several shortcomings, including the relatively small section on industry, inconsistent timeframes across maps, and specific cartographic or content-related flaws in certain maps. The article concludes that despite these minor issues, the atlas ranks highly by international standards, is thematically rich and modern, and serves as a reliable source for planners, researchers, and educators, with its true value judged by how well its depiction of Hungarian reality is understood.