Atlas de Belgique = Atlas van België
Belgium · Comité National de Géographie · 1950
Related Reviews & Articles
Regional atlases: a summary survey
Ena L. Yonge · 1962
This article is a comprehensive review of regional atlases, written by Ena L. Yonge. The author begins by noting that, given the ever-increasing flood of atlases from around the world, individual reviews of each publication are impossible; therefore, a summary survey is adopted. She also stresses that no single reviewer can be sufficiently expert in all aspects of geography, cartography, and linguistics to render sound critical judgments. The roughly one hundred regional atlases discussed are grouped primarily by continent or large region and then arranged alphabetically by country. In the European section, the author evaluates national and thematic atlases from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, and other countries, covering topics such as road transport, historical geography, climate, population, economy, and land use. She comments in detail on cartographic quality, scales, printing techniques, and practical utility. For example, the Austrian national atlas, directed by Hans Bobek and Erik Arnberger under the Commission for Land Planning of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, was published in five annual parts and demonstrates excellent cartography and printing. The Atlas de Belgique and the Atlas du Survey National supplement each other with plates on hydrogeology, phytogeography, agriculture, basic industries, waterways, and railways. The Climatic Atlas of Czechoslovakia is praised for its beautiful large-scale maps of temperature and precipitation. The article then turns to North America, focusing on state atlases in the United States, including Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. These atlases cover agriculture, forestry, economic resources, historical geography, and population, often compiled by universities or state agencies for educational and planning purposes. In the South American section, the author highlights notable publications such as the Atlas do Brasil, the Atlas de economía colombiana, and Venezuelan climatic and forest atlases. Throughout the review, the author acknowledges the scholarly value and cartographic achievements of many works while also pointing out occasional problems such as overly large formats or inappropriate scales. Overall, the article provides a broad and informative reference guide to regional atlases for scholars in geography, cartography, and related fields.
La géographie appliquée
O. Tulippe · 1956
Although applied geography is a term of recent origin, the phenomenon it denotes has a long history. Written in 1956, this article aims to clarify the concept and role of applied geography. It points out that applied geography emerged as geography evolved from a purely "contemplative" discipline into an applied science serving society and national spatial planning. Regional geography serves as a bridge between pure geography and applied geography, because it provides a direct and comprehensive understanding of regional environments, enabling geographers to make diagnoses and foresee the effects of management measures. The author compares France, the United Kingdom, and Belgium as examples: French academia acknowledges the value of geography in territorial development, yet the government rarely employs geographers; the United Kingdom systematically incorporates geographical surveys into regional and national planning; in Belgium, regional monographs have led authorities to invite geographers to participate in planning teams. The article also discusses French scholars' concerns about disciplinary fragmentation, encroachment by neighboring disciplines, and conceptual differences in regional geography: France adheres to traditional descriptive methods, while Britain and the United States place greater emphasis on planning and practical improvement. The latter half focuses on developments in teaching and training, including fieldwork in France and overseas, as well as practical exercises organized by the University of Liège's geography seminar to cultivate students' applied skills. At the University of Rennes, under the leadership of Meynier, Philipponneau completed the first national doctoral thesis in purely applied geography in France; the University of Bordeaux collaborates with applied humanities institutions and conducts overseas research. The author concludes that applied geography is a logical extension of pure geography, and the two constitute the same aspect of human knowledge; the practical value of applied geography is beyond doubt. He also suggests that the establishment of specialized teaching be discussed at international geographical congresses, and clarifies the distinction between geographers' applied geography and the "geonomy" proposed by urban planners: the latter focuses on coordinating the investigative tasks of various specialists, and if urban planners were to replace geographers, it would be a regrettable transfer of responsibilities.
L’Atlases de Belgique
O. Tulippe · 1960
The Atlas of Belgium is a systematic scientific geographical work compiled by a commission established in 1946 under the Belgian National Committee of Geography. It comprises about 52 plates covering Belgium's position in Europe, cartography and geophysics, physical geography, biogeography, human geography, economic geography, regional geography, and administration. The atlas uses a uniform large format with multiple scales; each plate includes a note on the mapping method and sources. From 1956 onward, bilingual explanatory commentaries have been published plate by plate, forming a roughly 1,000-page geographical encyclopedia of Belgium. The atlas serves scientific research, education, administration, and international publicity, and stands as a key indicator of the development of geography in Belgium.
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