Review: Atlas d'Haïti

Summary

The Atlas d'Haïti (1985), published through the French Centre d'Étude de Géographie Tropicale and directed by Christian Girault, represents the third national atlas of the Caribbean, after Cuba and Puerto Rico. It contains thirty chapters arranged conventionally, covering Haiti’s location, history, physical environment, population, agriculture, transport, trade, and social services. Each chapter comprises a concise thematic review, a bibliography, and a full-page, full-color map of outstanding cartographic quality and current data. Town maps and satellite imagery complement the country maps. Criticisms include uneven black-and-white photographs that overemphasize poverty and the absence of page numbering for future updates. Overall, the atlas is a visually impressive, authoritative reference, though photographs reduce its balance.