Reviews: The New National Atlas of Cuba

Summary

This review essay examines two major recent contributions to geographic scholarship. The first work signals the emergence of a Saudi school of geographers, well versed in social science research methods. Despite the uneven quality of its chapters, it defines future research themes essential for understanding a unique space shaped by the interaction between an exceptionally hostile natural environment and an extraordinary determination to develop the territory, supported by exceptional financial resources. The goal is to provide inhabitants with a quality of life comparable to that of large cities. The second work is the new National Atlas of Cuba (1989), an imposing volume directed by Gladstone Oliva Gutiérrez. Comprising over 200 large-format pages with 627 maps at various scales, 61 color photographs, and more than 700 diagrams, profiles, and graphs, it offers a detailed panorama of Cuban geography. Its 24 sections cover reference maps, natural conditions (geophysics, geology, relief, karst, climate, water resources, seas, soils, flora, fauna, and landscapes), human and economic aspects (population, resources, socio-cultural facilities, agriculture, sugar economy, industry, transport, regionalization, and environment), as well as a final section on history and revolution. The atlas represents a substantial improvement over the 1970 edition and stands as an essential document for anyone seeking cartographic and scientific reference on Cuba. Together, these works illustrate distinct but complementary approaches to national spatial representation and geographical analysis.