National geographic atlas of Czechoslovakia

L. G. Kamanin, N. F. Leontiev and G. A. Pravotorova review the Atlas of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (ÚSGK, Prague, 1966). They place it within a cartographic tradition that includes the 1935 national atlas and extensive postwar topographic, thematic and techno-economic mapping, describing the new atlas as a synthesis of materials from specialist investigations. Its maps generally range from 1:1,000,000 to 1:6,000,000, apart from the first two introductory maps; thematic sheets combine maps, explanatory texts, tables and graphs. Natural-science coverage occupies about one-third of the atlas. The reviewers emphasize the geological and tectonic maps, extensive climatic coverage, and legends combining age, lithology, origin and regional distinctions, while noting sparse coverage of animal life. They particularly praise coordination of map contents and legends, which makes relationships among geology, relief, Quaternary deposits and vegetation readily comparable. Socioeconomic coverage accounts for roughly two-thirds and serves both reference and planning purposes. Population maps examine labor, commuting, migration and settlement; industrial and agricultural maps show structures and historical changes. The review highlights agricultural production types and detailed representations of road density, traffic and railway freight, along with new themes concerning retail trade, housing and household amenities. Criticisms include limited geographical differentiation in livestock maps, schematic foreign-trade maps and conventional presentation of health, education and culture. The reviewers also discuss complementary socioeconomic coverage in the 1965 military and historical atlases. They judge the 1966 national atlas an outstanding integrated work, praising its thematic breadth, comparability, readable symbols and colors, and production quality, and considering it superior in many respects to comparable Western European publications.