national atlas of Canada
The national atlas of Canada
Canada · Unknown · 1974
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The Evolution of the Atlas of Canada, 1906–2006
Gosson, Claire · 2006
This paper traces the century-long evolution of the Atlas of Canada from its first print edition in 1906 to its dynamic online sixth edition in 2006, examining how changing national needs and technological advances reshaped its purpose, design, and production. Drawing on historical records and cartographic analysis, the study reviews each edition’s content, scale, and format, using the western portion of a representative map to illustrate visual and structural transformations over time. The first (1906) and second (1915) editions provided small-scale thematic maps of physical, demographic, and economic geography for a young nation focused on settlement and resource development. Following World War II, the third edition (1957/1958) responded to demands for comprehensive geographical information for planning, while the fourth (1974) adopted a folio format and recognized the Atlas as both a planning tool and a reflection of national identity. The fifth edition (1978–1995) pioneered digital cartography, standardized base maps, and initiated a serial map publication from a 1:2,000,000 database. By the sixth edition (1999), the Atlas became an Internet-based interactive platform, transforming into a living database that integrates geospatial data and partnerships. The findings show a shift from static printed volumes to a flexible online service that enhances accessibility, interactivity, and collaboration. This evolution demonstrates how a national atlas can remain authoritative and relevant by embracing information technology, ultimately serving as both a national showcase and an educational resource in an information society.
Canada's National Atlas Program in The Computer Era
Groot, Richard · 1979
Canada's National Atlas Program has historically aimed to provide a timely cartographic synthesis of the country's geography for government administration and public understanding. This paper examines the function, evolving design, and technological transformation of the program in the computer era. Drawing on user needs analysis and cost-benefit considerations, the study identifies four primary user groups: government administrators, researchers, educators, and the public. To meet their diverse information needs, the 5th Edition abandons the traditional bound volume in favor of a dynamic, two-part system: a decennial Canada Gazetteer Atlas and an ongoing Thematic Atlas comprising large-scale data base sheets and interpretive overview sheets. The program emphasizes ready access to factual spatial data, with users free to combine maps for custom analyses. The paper further argues that digital technology, despite high initial investment, is inevitable due to the increasing availability of digital data and user demand for flexible spatial queries. However, cost-effectiveness hinges on designing a data base management system that enables on-demand map production and analysis from an integrated data base, rather than merely automating map drawing. Such an approach is expected to significantly enhance the atlas's utility and justify its continued evolution. The paper concludes that the national atlas function—providing an executive summary of national geography and rapid source reference—is more urgent than ever in the digital age, and Canada's program is being repositioned as a dynamic, digitally-enabled data base to fulfill that role.
Introduction to Foreign Atlases
Unknown · 1984
This paper provides a comprehensive review of a selection of major world and national atlases produced in the twentieth century, including works from the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, and other European and North American countries. Through detailed description and comparative analysis, the study examines the content, cartographic design, projection selection, symbolization, and overall scientific and ideological quality of these atlases. Key findings highlight the remarkable scope and systematic organization of atlases such as the Soviet *Great Soviet World Atlas*, *Atlas Mira*, and *Morskoi Atlas*, which emphasize socialist economic achievements and anti‑imperialist perspectives. British publications like *The Times Atlas of the World* and *The Times Atlas of World History* are noted for their comprehensive reference value and continuous revision, while the German *Berghaus Physikalischer Atlas* pioneered thematic physical geography mapping. The review also evaluates the innovative representations in the *Swiss Atlas*, the detailed environmental and socio‑economic coverage in the *Canadian* and *American National Atlases*, and the high‑quality design of the *Japanese National Atlas*. Several atlases are critiqued for projection inconsistencies, poor layout, or politically biased boundary depictions. The paper concludes that these atlases collectively reflect the evolution of modern cartography and serve as indispensable tools for geographical research, land‑use planning, and education, while also revealing the diverse political and scientific contexts of their production.
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