National Atlas of Brazil: Northeast Region

Notes and Reviews: National Atlas of Brazil - Northeast Region

Sanchez, Miguel Cezar · 1987

This paper presents a critical review and dissemination of the Atlas of the Brazilian Northeast, a cartographic work originally published in 1985 under a joint agreement between IBGE and SUDENE. Despite its age, the atlas retains high cartographic significance as a comprehensive repository of geographic information on the Northeast region. It is not strictly a school atlas but serves both elementary and advanced levels through analytical and synthetic map documents complemented by explanatory texts. The volume measures 40.5 × 55 cm, contains 103 pages—53 of them dedicated to high-quality color maps at scales of 1:4,000,000 or 1:8,000,000—and includes black-and-white maps, tables, and graphs. A minor methodological shortcoming is identified: inconsistency in class-interval notation, a common cartographic flaw in Brazil, though many maps show awareness of the issue by using precise boundary notation. The atlas is organized into fifteen thematic sections: General References, Geology and Relief, Climate, Renewable Resources, Population, Primary Activities, Industry, Energy and Transport, Trade and Finance, Health, Education, Housing Conditions, Tourism, Living Standards, and Urban and Regional Organization. Each section offers detailed spatial analyses of demographic, economic, environmental, and social indicators. The review concludes that, despite its minor technical imperfection, the atlas constitutes an indispensable cartographic collection for teachers, students, researchers, and planners, providing a broad and integrated overview of the characteristics and challenges of Northeast Brazil.