Belarus

Published in 1958 to commemorate the republic’s fortieth anniversary, the Atlas of the BSSR was produced by the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR and the Soviet geodetic and cartographic authority, with Belarusian scientists and the Minsk Cartographic Factory participating. Its 140 pages of maps cover political administration, geology, relief, climate, hydrology, soils, vegetation, population, industry, agriculture, culture, healthcare and history, supplemented by explanatory texts, diagrams and profiles. Reviews published in 1959–60 praised its extensive thematic coverage and resource mapping, while identifying inconsistencies between maps, gaps in population and landscape mapping, and insufficient local detail in district economic maps.

The National Atlas of Belarus appeared in book form in 2002, with the State Committee on Property of the Republic of Belarus listed as publisher. It coordinates maps of history, nature, population, economy, culture and international relations. Iryna Barodzich’s 2024 account identifies the 2024 publication as a second edition. Retaining the original format and principal scales, it expands to 20 sections and 348 pages, with 704 maps and diagrams, including 243 published for the first time. History moves to the opening section. Added coverage includes archaeological discoveries, Belarusian dialects, the country’s global position, transport and logistics, healthcare, science, education, culture and sport. The account proposes a national atlas information system as a future task.