New maps and Atlases

A New Geography on the Comparative Method. With Maps and Diagrams. By J. M. D. Meiklejohn, M.A. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co. St Andrews: A. M. Holden. 1889. Pp. 492. Price 4s. 6d.

The Government Year‐Book. Edited by Lewis Sergeant. Pp. viii., 550. London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1889. Price 6s.

Midnight Sunbeams; or, Bits of Travel through the Land of the Norseman. By Edwin Coolidge Kimball. Alexander Gardner : Paisley and London. N.D. Pp. 279. Price 6s.

Meyer's Konversations‐Lexikon. Vierte Auflage. XII. Band : Nathusius —Phlegmone. XIII. Band : Phlegon—Rubinstein. Verlag des Biblio‐graphischen Institute : Leipzig, 1888–1889. Pp. 1028 × 2.     

National Atlases

The concept of national atlas is reviewed in light of experience gained since such a specific category of cartographic production was first suggested in 1958 by K. A. Salishchev. On the basis of analysis of the structure and content of 14 atlases, a set of definitions and criteria is drawn up that would qualify an atlas as truly national. Aside from being limited to the territory of a single country, such an atlas should devote roughly 70 to 85 percent of its total space to maps of the physical environment, population and ecomnomy. The atlas content should be on a scholarly level reflecting the state of the art, for use principally as an aid in the evaluation of territory, of the production base and of manpower resources for purposes of economic and social planning. Among the principal map sections, greater weight given to economic maps is justified in highly developed, industrial countries, while more attention to the physical base tends to be given in countries where agriculture is still the basis of the nation's economy. The atlases of Colombia and Kenya devote less than 50 percent of their space to environment, population and economy and therefore would not qualify. Neither, in the author's view, does the atlas of Salvador, which allocates 68 percent of space to agriculture and only 12 percent to the physical base.     

Integrated Regional Geographic Atlases

The author reviews work on atlases of Soviet republics and oblasts published in 1961–64, containing maps on physical geography, population, economy and culture. He finds that these atlases suffer from a lack of practical purposefulness and inadequate coordination. These weaknesses are to be remedied in a new coordinated project of natural-resource atlases of the major republics and economic regions of the USSR initiated in 1963.     

Geological Maps in National Atlases

The author reviews the group of geological maps in national atlases, comparing the form and content of geological-stratigraphic, tectonic, mineral-deposits, lithological-petrographic and Quaternary-deposits maps and making recommendations for greater uniformity of such maps in national atlases.     

Reviews of Atlases and maps

EUROPE

An Atlas of Edinburgh. Prepared and published by the Geographical Association (Edinburgh Branch). 15 × 10. Pp. 39+5. 10s.

National Atlas of Disease Mortality in the United Kingdom. Prepared by G. M. Howe. 11 ¼ × 6 ¾. Pp. 111. 56 maps and associated commentaries, statistical appendix and administrative overtraces. London and Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., 1963. 35s.

Oxford Plastic Relief Maps; series 4: maps 8 (Devon), 9 (Cornwall), and 10 (Hampshire).

AFRICA

Nigeria Junior Atlas. Edited by E. E. Soladoye. Ghana Junior Atlas. Edited by E. A. Boateng. Both 11 × 8 ½. Pp. 33. London and Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd., 1965. Nigeria 5s.     

Population Maps in National Atlases

The author finds that population maps in national atlases should, as a minimum, treat population from four aspects: population numbers and density, geography of settlements, social and economic characteristics, and ethnographic characteristics. He notes that published national atlases generally slight the social and economic aspects in favor of strictly demographic characteristics of population.     

Climate Maps in National Atlases

A complete climate section of a national atlas should contain maps, tables and graphs presenting data on climate-forming factors, the temperature regime, moisture supply, climatic regions and typical weather situations. Published national atlases are analyzed and recommendations for the treatment of climate are made. Particular importance is attached to the integrated presentation of several climatic elements on a single map. The value of climatic maps for various segments of the economy (agriculture, construction, transportation) is emphasized.     

The Geographical Stage of Preparation of Complex Thematic Atlases

The planning of Soviet complex thematic atlases of particular regions or countries has followed a procedure previously established for general atlases. In view of the different problems involved in the preparation of the two types of atlases, it is suggested that the preparation of thematic atlases be broken down into two distinct phases: a geographical stage, in which geographers would make the principal contribution, and a technical planning stage that would be handled mainly by cartographers. Such a procedure would tend to speed up the production of atlases and to improve their content.     

Maps of Waters of the Land in National Atlases

In this article, which is part of a series on national atlases, the author makes recommendations for the selection of maps and map content to be incorporated into the atlas section devoted to the water resources of the land. She divides the maps into two major classes: maps of drainage patterns, and maps of the characteristics of stream regime.