National Atlas of Mexico, the whole country on your shoulder

Summary

The National Atlas of Mexico, produced by the Institute of Geography at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), is the most comprehensive geographic work of the country in this century. Compiled over five years by an interdisciplinary team of 300 researchers from 15 UNAM departments, six government agencies (including INEGI and CONACYT), and foreign advisors, the atlas contains 600 maps across three volumes. Thematic coverage spans history, society, nature and environment, economy, and international relations. Volume I presents general maps, historical events, and social indicators such as education, health, and migration. Volume II addresses physical geography, climate, oceanography, biodiversity (with novel maps of reptiles, butterflies, and mammals), and environmental quality. Volume III focuses on economic activities, transport, infrastructure, and foreign trade. Internationally acclaimed as the finest national atlas for its breadth and cartographic quality, it is regarded as a work of art and was printed entirely in Mexico for the first time at European standards. A major outcome is the creation of a geographic and statistical data bank that enables detailed analyses down to the municipal level. The atlas serves as a critical decision-support tool for agriculture, urban planning, environmental protection, and resource management, fostering interdisciplinary research and evidence-based policy.