Book reviews: National Atlas of Afghanistan

Summary

This review evaluates the *National Atlas of Afghanistan* (2014), edited by Andreas Dittmann, as a landmark product of long-standing German–Afghan scientific cooperation. The atlas integrates thematic maps with explanatory texts, creating a comprehensive regional compendium. The review examines the work’s structure: physical geography (geology, soils, climate, hydrography, vegetation, ecoregions, and an extensive faunal distribution) precedes a larger socio-economic section. It highlights the cartographic challenges, especially the scarcity and unreliability of socio-economic data, exemplified by unrecorded informal trade and the need to derive agricultural information partly from satellite imagery. While acknowledging the diligent use of scattered sources and historical research traditions, the review notes limitations such as the absence of qualitative health and education assessments, neglect of historical dimensions, and some minor editorial flaws. Nevertheless, it commends the attractive computer-cartographic design. The review concludes that the atlas transcends a mere inventory of conditions; it represents a model of engaged international collaboration, a foundation for modern, spatially differentiated regional studies, and a vital instrument for fostering national consciousness, supporting state consolidation, and guiding development planning in Afghanistan. It strongly affirms the value of the invested resources and the exceptional dedication of the German and Afghan teams.