On the New National Atlas of the Armenian SSR

Summary

The Armenian SSR National Atlas, first published in 1961, provided a fundamental cartographic synthesis of the republic's natural and socioeconomic conditions. This paper outlines the program for a second‑generation national atlas (Volume 1: Natural Conditions, to be completed by 1990) developed in response to accelerating scientific and technological progress and the urgent need for ecologically sustainable natural resource management. The study compares the structure and content of the new atlas with its predecessor, drawing on the methodological guidelines of the International Geographical Union’s Commission on National Atlases. The new atlas program significantly expands thematic coverage. While the 1961 edition contained approximately 150–170 maps, the planned volume increases the number of maps several‑fold. For example, climatic maps will grow from 20 to 60, hydrological from 7 to 23, geological from 8 to 15, and geomorphological from 1 to 19. Entirely new sections are introduced, including geophysical conditions, resource assessment, medical geography, engineering‑ecological evaluation, phenology, and maps of surface‑water pollution and nature conservation. Complex interrelational maps are emphasized, such as those linking relief energy, hydroclimatic altitudinal zonality, and soil‑vegetation structures in mountainous terrain. The program also integrates remote sensing methods to capture seasonal dynamics of geosystems and anthropogenic impacts. The atlas will use a principal scale of 1:1,000,000, incorporate explanatory texts and color photographs, and ensure cartographic comparability and complementarity. By providing comprehensive, scientifically rigorous information, the new atlas is designed to support rational nature use, environmental optimization, and geographical forecasting, serving both scientific research and practical planning for regional development.