Tanganyika Atlas

Summary

This paper reviews the second edition of the Atlas of the Tanganyika Territory (1948), produced by the Department of Lands and Mines, Dar es Salaam. Against the backdrop of post‑war interest in under‑developed areas, the atlas exemplifies how geographical knowledge can underpin sustainable development planning. Compared with the 1942 first edition, the 1948 version is substantially expanded: new maps depict soils, vegetation, and principal mines, while thoroughly revised sheets cover rainfall, geology, hydrography, temperature, physiography, forest reserves, game distribution and reserves, educational and medical facilities, agriculture, and transport networks (air, road, rail). Detailed population maps distinguish African, European, and Asian groups. A notable contribution is the inclusion of medical‑geography maps showing tsetse fly distribution, sleeping sickness incidence, malaria prevalence, and cattle densities, offering crucial insights into human‑environment health interactions. Accompanying text for each map provides supplementary data. The atlas further features a statistical appendix with import–export data (1893‑1946) and production graphs for tin, mica, salt, gold, and diamonds. It closes with a historical section tracing the cartography of East Africa from Herodotus and Ptolemy to the mid‑20th century, illustrating the evolution of spatial knowledge. The paper concludes that such comprehensive atlases are vital tools for policy‑makers, demonstrating the indispensable role of geographers in assembling the informational foundations required to address pressing world issues.