Review: National Atlas of Cuba

Summary

This paper provides a critical survey of a comprehensive cartographic collection focused on the Caribbean region. The maps, generally employing direct equivalent conic projections, are predominantly at a scale of 1:1,500,000, while climatic maps often appear at smaller scales (1:2,500,000 to 1:5,000,000). Certain thematic maps—relief, tectonic, and climatic—cover the entire Caribbean area. Through descriptive-analytical methods, the study examines the collection’s thematic diversity, interdisciplinary synthesis, and cartographic quality. The analysis reveals that over half of the maps are physical, exceptionally illustrating natural conditions and resources, and frequently combining data from multiple disciplines to offer remarkable geographic insight. Highlighted are original and practical maps: relief, geological (with cross-sections), tectonic and epicenter, geomorphological (distinguishing plains, hills, and mountains), karst phenomena, coastal landforms, slope, relief dissection, and drainage. Soil maps reflect diverse typological, genetic, and applied perspectives. Climatic maps are enriched by seasonal, evaporation, synoptic, and hurricane charts. A fine vegetation map is accompanied by a fauna map, and marine maps complete the portrait of the island environment. The human geography maps are equally instructive, portraying socio-economic and cultural dimensions. The collection’s meticulous design and capacity to synthesize complex geographic information render it an invaluable resource for regional planning, environmental management, and research. The survey concludes that such integrated mapping efforts significantly deepen understanding of island environments and human-environment interactions.