Lithuania立陶宛

Curatorial Note

The Lithuanian national atlas tradition reflects the country’s shifting political and cartographic landscapes. The earliest holdings date to 1981, when two editions of the Atlas of the Lithuanian SSR were published—one by the Soviet central mapping authority and one by the Lithuanian SSR’s own geodesy and cartography board. These twin volumes, issued in Russian and Lithuanian, exemplify the Soviet-era practice of producing standardized regional atlases while allowing a degree of local input. After independence, the tradition was revived with a modern, multi-volume National Atlas of Lithuania. The first volume appeared in 2016, followed by volumes 2 and 3 in 2016 and 2017, produced by GIS-Centras and the National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, with the latter two volumes printed by Petro ofsetas. These new atlases represent a significant shift in editorial approach: they are thematic, digitally supported, and designed to serve both national identity and practical planning. Together, the five volumes trace a clear arc—from Soviet-era administrative cartography to a sovereign state’s comprehensive geographical self-portrait. They stand as a testament to Lithuania’s enduring commitment to mapping its land, people, and environment, and they provide a valuable resource for scholars, planners, and citizens alike.