Atlas of the Tanganyika Territory
Tanganyika · Department of Lands and Mines · 1948
Related Reviews & Articles
Geographical Record: Atlas of the Tanganyika Territory
Greenway, P. J. · 1949
This paper provides a descriptive review of the "Atlas of the Tanganyika Territory" (1942), a comprehensive cartographic compilation produced by the Survey Division of Tanganyika under the direction of H.P. Rowe. Despite the wartime context limiting its public release, the atlas assembled a wide range of geographical information. The paper details the atlas's structure, which comprises five physical maps (physiography, physical features, geology, rainfall and temperature), three biogeographical maps (forest reserves, game distribution and reserves, tsetse distribution), six human geography maps (native population, European and Asiatic population, tribes, provinces and districts, medical and educational facilities), and four industry and commerce maps (agriculture, cattle densities, minerals, and communications). A historical section with nine sheets includes reproductions of ancient maps and routes of European explorers. The atlas was initially restricted to government departments for security reasons. Subsequent additions in 1943 included hydrography and a provisional malaria map, with soil and vegetation maps in preparation. A revised edition was anticipated by late 1948, with public availability expected in 1949. The review highlights the atlas's value as a centralized reference that consolidates diverse data otherwise scattered across inaccessible publications.
Some Recent Regional Atlases: A Review
Ristow, Walter W.; Nielsen, Niels; Schou, Axel; Calvert, W. E.; Hassinger, Hugo · 1951
This article reviews sixteen significant general regional and topical regional atlases published between approximately 1940 and 1950, representing eleven countries and diverse subjects such as viticulture, textiles, peat bogs, hydroelectric power, regional planning, physical geography, and resource distribution. Drawing on Wright and Platt's classification, the review distinguishes these specialized works from general world atlases, emphasizing their role as essential tools for serious research. The atlases are examined individually with attention to sponsorship, cartographic design, scale, textual content, and thematic coverage. Notable examples include the French Atlas de la France vinicole and Atlas hydroélectrique de France, the highly regarded Atlas of Denmark with its innovative block diagrams and bilingual presentation, the loose-leaf Atlas général du Congo, and resource-oriented works such as Bengal in Maps and the Tasmanian regional planning atlas. The review finds that these atlases not only document resource inventories and planning priorities but also reflect national and colonial interests of the post-war era. Many were produced through cooperative efforts among government agencies, academic institutions, and private sponsors. Cartographic quality varies, with several attaining high standards. The collection as a whole illustrates the vitality of regional atlas production and offers valuable comparative insights into mid-twentieth-century geographic knowledge and mapping techniques.
Tanganyika Atlas
Bondy, Malcolm E. · 1950
This paper reviews the second edition of the Atlas of the Tanganyika Territory (1948), produced by the Department of Lands and Mines, Dar es Salaam. Against the backdrop of post‑war interest in under‑developed areas, the atlas exemplifies how geographical knowledge can underpin sustainable development planning. Compared with the 1942 first edition, the 1948 version is substantially expanded: new maps depict soils, vegetation, and principal mines, while thoroughly revised sheets cover rainfall, geology, hydrography, temperature, physiography, forest reserves, game distribution and reserves, educational and medical facilities, agriculture, and transport networks (air, road, rail). Detailed population maps distinguish African, European, and Asian groups. A notable contribution is the inclusion of medical‑geography maps showing tsetse fly distribution, sleeping sickness incidence, malaria prevalence, and cattle densities, offering crucial insights into human‑environment health interactions. Accompanying text for each map provides supplementary data. The atlas further features a statistical appendix with import–export data (1893‑1946) and production graphs for tin, mica, salt, gold, and diamonds. It closes with a historical section tracing the cartography of East Africa from Herodotus and Ptolemy to the mid‑20th century, illustrating the evolution of spatial knowledge. The paper concludes that such comprehensive atlases are vital tools for policy‑makers, demonstrating the indispensable role of geographers in assembling the informational foundations required to address pressing world issues.
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