Regional Atlases: Tendencies of Development Subject Matters of the Maps on Natural Conditions and Resources

Summary

Regional atlases represent a significant trend in modern integrated mapping. This article, commissioned by the International Geographical Union Commission on National Atlases, systematically reviews the history and current state of regional atlases, with a focus on the subject matters and compilation characteristics of maps on natural conditions and resources. The development of regional atlases has been driven by the needs of economic planning, resource development, and regional management. Early examples such as the 1914 Atlas of Asiatic Russia and the Soviet atlases of Moscow and Leningrad regions in the 1930s laid the foundation for comprehensive regional mapping. After World War II, regional atlases proliferated worldwide, encompassing comprehensive, thematic, and educational types. The article analyzes the Atlas of Illinois Resources as a case study, highlighting its business-oriented pragmatism, which led to excessive generalization, weak internal coherence, and a lack of scientific explanation. It also reviews notable examples such as the British Columbia Atlas of Resources and the Economic Atlas of Manitoba, emphasizing their practical utility in resource assessment and regional planning. Drawing on Soviet experience, the article offers recommendations on map selection, content standardization, and editorial organization to enhance comparability and integrity across atlases. Overall, the evolution of regional atlases reflects a shift from descriptive inventories to multi-element integrated analyses, yet a balance between practicality and scientific rigor remains essential for effectively supporting regional economic development and planning decisions.