Comprehensive Atlas of the Azerbaijan SSR

Summary

This paper presents a critical review of the *Atlas of the Azerbaijan SSR* (1963), a comprehensive scientific reference work compiled under the Institute of Geography of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. The analysis systematically examines the atlas’s structure, thematic coverage, and cartographic methods, comparing it with other Soviet regional atlases, especially the *Atlas of the Armenian SSR*. The atlas comprises 210 maps organized into sections on natural conditions (53 %), economy (36 %), and culture and history (11 %), offering an integrated portrait of the republic’s physical geography, population, industry, agriculture, transport, and cultural development. Several cartographic innovations are highlighted, such as maps of structural regionalization, atmospheric circulation types, soil erosion intensity, mudflow dynamics, and a dedicated section on the Caspian Sea that functions as a miniature thematic atlas. The review identifies both strengths and shortcomings. On the positive side, the atlas features rich content, extensive graphic supplements, high printing quality, and up-to-date scientific data. Deficiencies include logical inconsistencies in map sequencing, an inadequate treatment of population (administrative averages obscuring actual settlement patterns, absence of city typologies and recent growth dynamics), missing agricultural productivity and agrometeorological maps, and a binding order dictated by format rather than logic. Despite these flaws, the atlas is judged a successful and valuable contribution to Soviet cartography, reflecting advanced research and a thorough understanding of Azerbaijan’s natural and socio-economic conditions.