Map review: Atlas of France

Summary

This article reviews the first 16 plates of the Atlas de France, published by the Comité National de Géographie and first presented at the 1931 International Geographical Congress in Paris. The atlas, planned to include 80 plates, covers physical, economic, and human geography. The reviewed plates include hypsometric maps at 1:1,250,000 scale, clearly depicting France's relief with its peripheral mountain ranges, central plateau, and basin landscapes; temperature maps showing isotherms, frost duration, and phenological data; mineral maps detailing ores, coal, salts, and quarries with production statistics; and industrial maps illustrating the distribution of metal and textile industries with worker counts. The review highlights the atlas's clarity and comprehensive data integration, offering a systematic reference for understanding French geography.