Geographical Publications: Atlas de Cuba

Summary

This paper presents a comprehensive geographical atlas of Cuba, designed by the Professor of Geography at the Instituto de la Vibora in Havana, employing an analytical approach to illuminate national issues. The research purpose is to provide a detailed, visually rich description of Cuba's physical environment and economic activities, while advancing cartographic experimentation. The methodology integrates a diverse array of graphical tools—block diagrams, distribution maps, pictographs, and a large folded map—combined with concise bilingual (Spanish and English) explanatory texts. The atlas systematically covers the island's location, historical discovery and colonization, climate, geology, geomorphology, soils, vegetation, mineral resources, population and social composition, agriculture, industries, and trade and transportation networks. A key innovation is the large map, based on aerial surveys and analysis of color photographs, where specially selected colors denote cultivated fields and natural vegetation, and physiographic symbols recreate an overhead view of the true landscape. Key findings highlight Cuba’s profound dependence on its geographical attributes—location, climate, and soil—and its challenging economic position as a supplier to the United States. The conclusions underscore the atlas's dual utility: as an indispensable reference for students, teachers, and commerce specialists needing a case study of the Caribbean, and as an essential tool for Cuban citizens to foster a precise understanding of their nation. The work advocates for greater economic diversification and suggests that similar cartographic representations of other regions would greatly enhance landscape visualization and geographical literacy.