A National Atlas for Ethiopia

Summary

This paper advocates the preparation of a comprehensive national atlas for Ethiopia, arguing its critical role in economic and social development planning. Drawing on the experience of the International Geographical Union’s Commission on National Atlases and recognizing the data limitations typical of many developing countries, the author presents a detailed conceptual framework. The proposed atlas is structured into six major thematic sections—physical, demographic, economic, social, political, and historical—comprising approximately 100 maps. Emphasis is placed on the physical environment (relief, geology, soils, climate, hydrology, flora and fauna), population characteristics, economic activities (including agriculture, livestock, manufacturing, and transportation), socio-cultural services, historical cartographic records, and Ethiopia’s international relations. Technical recommendations address unified scales (1:4–8 million for general maps, 1:1 million for regional maps, 1:25,000 for cities), standardized color schemes, loose‑sheet format for easy revision, and transparent overlays for comparative analysis. The atlas is designed to serve as both a long‑term documentary record and a practical tool for sustainable development, even where statistical data are scarce. The paper concludes that the atlas must be a cooperative national effort, guided by an editorial board within the Mapping & Geography Institute, with a strict timetable and distributed publication of individual sheets to maintain timeliness.