The first national atlas of Canada

Summary

This review assesses the first National Atlas of Canada (4th edition), a 284-page volume published as a government-private co-publication. The atlas adopts a smaller format and scale (1:15 million) compared to predecessors, aiming to refine public perception of Canada rather than utilitarian decision-making. Contents include physical geography (relief, hydrology, geology, soils, climate) and economic geography (trade, labour, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, transport). The reviewer notes high standards of design and reproduction, though some maps suffer from colour choices, small lettering, and misregistration. Overall, despite growing reliance on digital data, the atlas remains valuable for offering an accessible, integrated overview of the nation.