Zu einigen Problemen der Konzeption und kartographischen Gestaltung von Nationalatlanten der Entwicklungsländer

Summary

This article examines conceptual and cartographic design issues in national atlases of developing countries. The author notes that national atlases, emerging in the late 19th century, gained significant momentum after World War II due to decolonization and the rise of new states, with about 80% of national and complex regional atlases appearing in Africa and Latin America. The International Geographical Union (IGU) established a Commission on National Atlases in 1956, but its work largely served countries with advanced cartographic services, while developing countries faced unique challenges due to lacking geographical traditions, developed cartography, and organized statistics. The article emphasizes that national atlases are highly valuable for developing countries, efficiently integrating information on natural resources and labor to support economic planning, personnel training, and scientific research, while fostering international cooperation. However, these atlases are not neutral data compilations but reflect each country's natural, historical, and socio-economic characteristics. Their thematic content often prioritizes natural resource surveys and key sectors like agriculture and industry, yet is constrained by inadequate theoretical research and classification systems, requiring navigation of multiple scientific perspectives. Using Cuba's national atlas as an example, the author illustrates how different legend schemes can be applied for topics like soil maps. Additionally, these atlases feature numerous applied maps, such as mineral resources classified by use, and introduce regionalization maps offering practical recommendations. The author recommends loose-leaf publication for easy updates and comparison, and advocates including regional maps at larger scales to support development projects. Given the lack of separate historical atlases in developing countries, the author argues for incorporating historical maps to enhance scientific value. In conclusion, developing countries' national atlases require flexible design and strict consideration of national specifics and research levels, as applying principles from developed countries may not always be beneficial, presenting intriguing problems whose solutions will advance atlas cartography.