The New Atlas of Israel

Summary

The New Atlas of Israel, published in 1995 as the fourth edition, represents a deliberate transformation from a research-oriented academic publication to a user-friendly educational tool for the general public and schools. This paper outlines the editorial policy and cartographic principles that guided the revision. The primary objective was to enhance clarity and legibility by aligning map design with the cognitive capacities of students and lay readers. Methodologically, this involved strict topic selection, reducing comprehensive map series to representative samples (e.g., from 44 rainfall maps to two extremes). Maps were simplified via generalization, focusing on major features while omitting minor details. Presentation was streamlined: each map handled a single subject, and consistent projections, scales, and formats were applied across related themes to facilitate comparative analysis. Color palettes and symbols were chosen for easy differentiation well above visual thresholds, and legends were restructured into intuitive groups. The result is an atlas that sacrifices some scholarly comprehensiveness and refinement for improved legibility and educational utility. The New Atlas of Israel thus successfully popularizes the national atlas concept, making geographic information accessible and relevant to broader societal needs. This edition also anticipated future developments, positioning itself as a necessary precursor to an electronic atlas.