The Atlas of Israel

Summary

The Atlas of Israel, a national atlas of one of the world's smallest countries (20,700 km²), uses unusually large map scales (1:500,000 to 1:2,000,000) to represent the country in detail. Its compilation faces distinctive cartographic problems: rapid social and economic change requires time-sequence maps; uneven documentary sources before and after 1947 complicate coverage; extreme contrasts of aridity, population, and altitude—from the Dead Sea (400 m below sea level) to mountains over 1,600 m—demand careful symbolization and altitude tints. The atlas, issued in folders since 1956, covers cartography, physical geography, history, population, settlements, agriculture, industry, communications, and services, providing a comprehensive and dynamic portrait of Israel's geography.