Criticism and Bibliography. Atlas of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic

Summary

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the Atlas of the Armenian SSR, a complex cartographic work of scientific-reference character published to mark the 40th anniversary of Soviet power in Armenia. The research aim is to analyze the atlas’s structure, content, cartographic methodology, and practical significance. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, the study examines all sections—physical geography, geology, climate, hydrology, soils, vegetation, population, industry, agriculture, general economics, and history—comprising 182 maps (143 main and 39 supplementary), numerous insets, profiles, and explanatory texts. Key findings highlight the atlas as the second comprehensive national atlas of the USSR and the first relatively large-scale atlas (1:1,000,000) for a mountainous region. Its distinctive features include strong practical orientation (agroclimatic, fenological, engineering-geological maps), complex depiction of interrelated phenomena on single sheets, innovative representation of territorial-production complexes (e.g., the Sevan–Hrazdan energy-irrigation system), and historical depth spanning from the Urartu state to Soviet-era repatriation of Armenians. The bilingual publication (Armenian and Russian) and creation of new Armenian cartographic fonts are also noted. The atlas successfully meets Lenin’s methodological requirements for a Soviet atlas by showing phenomena in their historical development and interconnections. The conclusion affirms that the Atlas of the Armenian SSR is a landmark encyclopedic work, a model for large-scale regional atlases, and a major contribution to Soviet cartography and cultural life.