Atlases: Part 3, Country and Regional Atlases

In addition to the World Atlases, Hewes library has some more detailed regional/country atlases that give more information on an area than what is found in the traditional Atlas.

Atlas de Espana: A two volume atlas of Spain published in Spanish by El Pais, a Spanish news service. The first volume has detailed maps of mainland Spain and its islands (the Azores, Balerics, Canaries and Maderia). The second volume has charts, text and photographs detailing Spain’s commerce, culture, geography and geology. (in Spanish)

Atlas of Japan: An older Atlas with detailed information on the physical, economic and social aspects of Japan in the 1970s. The climate and ocean current information is still useful.

Atlas of Israel: A very large Atlas containing a huge amount of information on a very small, but very significant country. In addition to the usual things found in a regional Atlas, it also contains historical maps of the area showing significant archeological sites and the history of the region from prehistoric times through the biblical kingdom of Israel, through Arab and Ottoman rule to the modern state of Israel.

Atlas of Modern Israel: This older atlas contains useful basic information on the geography, climate, geology and flora and fauna found in the region. The most interesting parts of the Atlas relate to the history and origins of the state of Israel and it also has an interesting entry on places on the country that are holy to various faith groups including Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Bahais.

Atlas of the South Pacific: Very detailed maps, with short entries on the people, industries and geography of a little known region of the world.

Landscape atlas of the USSR: An old Atlas published by the United States Military Academy at West Point that contains detailed geological and geographic information on the country that was the Soviet Union. This atlas clearly demonstrates how geology and landscape influence settlement, industry and agriculture in the region.

New Zealand Atlas: Contains information on the geological formation of the islands and how that has influenced settlement and development of the one of the world’s most remote countries. It also has the most detailed maps of New Zealand.

State of China Atlas: Contains many colored maps containing information on the people, culture, economy and political system of China.

The U.S.S. R. and Eastern Europe is an Oxford University Press publication from the 1950s. This atlas is interesting in that Russia and Eastern Europe were closed societies at that time, and this atlas represents a “best guess” as to economic and industrial conditions found in these countries.