Antecedentes, Concepción, y Desarrollo del "Nuevo Atlas Nacional de Cuba"

Summary

The New National Atlas of Cuba represents a landmark in Cuban geography and cartography. The first National Atlas, published in 1970, gradually became outdated as the country underwent rapid socioeconomic development. In 1983, a new edition was initiated under the joint direction of the Institute of Geography of the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the Cuban Institute of Geodesy and Cartography. Involving nearly 150 institutions and 1,500 specialists, the atlas was published in January 1989. It comprises 210 sheets of maps and text organized into 18 thematic sections, covering physical geography, population, social infrastructure, natural resources, economic activities, environment, and history. The large-format volume (59 × 52 cm) presents Cuba at scales from 1:1,000,000 to 1:4,000,000. Beyond its practical utility, the atlas laid the groundwork for Cuba's Geographic Information System (SIG-Cuba) and inspired the production of regional and thematic atlases, leaving a lasting scientific legacy.