Cartographical Progress: Atlas of Uganda

Summary

This article presents a critical review of recent cartographic publications, evaluated within the framework of "Cartographical Progress." Three contributions are examined. First, a Swiss atlas is assessed for its innovative relief representation method developed by Prof. Ed. Imhof, which combines brown contours, layered tints from olive green to white, and bluish grey shading to achieve a plastic, model-like effect while retaining clarity of labels and detail. The atlas is praised for its educational design, progressing from national to world maps with decreasing scale, though minor errors in British maps and the absence of an index are noted. Second, the newly released Atlas of Uganda is reviewed. Compiled locally by the Department of Lands and Surveys, it features 38 sheets with accompanying notes and photographs. The review highlights its well-judged thematic selection, successful choropleth and ethnic mapping techniques, and inclusion of historical maps showing exploration routes and boundary evolution. It is regarded as the best East African national atlas, affordable and valuable for both geographers and development specialists. Third, two sea‑ice atlases—covering the Soviet Arctic and Arctic Canada—are compared. Both employ a frequency‑chart methodology originating from the Scott Polar Research Institute, using sector diagrams to summarize observations of ice concentration and navigability, alongside tabular summaries. The system enables users to assess data reliability visually, despite requiring initial familiarization. Overall, the article underscores significant advances in atlas design, thematic mapping, and the presentation of environmental data.