Mountains seem to rise off the pages and desert sand feels gritty to the touch in the new HAMMOND ATLAS OF THE WORLD. More than 160 pages of all new, computer-generated world maps feature remarkable physical relief details and 60 inset maps of major metropolitan areas. Includes thematic maps and data on key global issues and much more. Easy to use with a 100,000 entry Master Index.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Overall, the Hammond is a strikingly beautiful atlas. The design is fresh and the organization clear. The Hammond has greater success than Oxford's Atlas of the World and the Macmillan at combining shaded relief with hypsometric tints (see "Scouting Expedition," p. 42). But the clarity and beauty of the Hammond maps comes at a price. The atlas provides fewer details for roads and transportation networks than some of its competitors, and its two-page spreads are not separated at page gutters, which makes parts of some maps hard to read. The index is large (110,000 entries) and detailed but fails to provide latitude and longitude for its entries. More troubling is the number of errors and omissions. For instance, Mecca and its variant spelling, "Makkah," are missing from the index, although both appear on the reference map. Though Hammond uses a limited number of scales, these still vary as appropriate to the area covered. Despite its flaws, this is among the first choices for a moderately priced reference atlas.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Beginning with an essay on the evolution of cartography from 2300 B.C. to the computer-generated techniques of the 1990s, this new edition of the Hammond Atlas proceeds to clear explanations of map projections and a user's guide. The inside front cover provides a visual index to the atlas, and the inside back cover provides a time zone map. A quick reference guide serves as a gazetteer to countries, continents, territories, possessions, and other major geographical areas, providing square miles and kilometers, population, capital or chief town, and location in the atlas.
The main text begins with maps, charts, and graphs illustrating global demographics, energy production, pollution, gross domestic product per capita, literacy, and life expectancies. Fifteen pages of exceptionally clear maps illustrate the earth's surface and the ocean floors in three-dimensional relief; these are followed by individual maps of distinct geographic regions, divided by continent. Two pages of statistics (for example, elements of the solar system, major ship canals, principal natural lakes), a five-page table providing population for countries and major cities of the world, and a 96-page index to approximately 117,000 places and geographic features conclude the atlas.
For the most part, the colors and symbols used throughout are clear, well designed, and easy to decipher. New to this edition is the combination of political map data with computer-generated relief maps. Varying bands of color, called hypsometric tints, are used to indicate ranges of elevation. Bathymetric tints delineate ocean depths. Perhaps because of the tinting, new symbols are employed to indicate features, such as national parks, which used to be identified by colors. As a result, some of these features, such as Badlands National Park, are somewhat more difficult to locate. Others, including national grasslands and seashores, have been dropped altogether. Problems with the previous edition regarding maps that were placed side to side, thus necessitating rotation of the atlas for reading, have been resolved. All of the maps face up and down.
Of course, this new edition updates political changes and the boundaries of places in the world. There are 167 new political maps, including the Nile River Delta, Oslo, and Vatican City, that show selected areas in greater detail. Particularly helpful (in both editions) are arrows on the borders of each page which point to pages that continue the geographic area a user may be studying.
This is a superior atlas for quick look-ups and armchair travel. In comparison to other recent atlases, such as The DK World Atlas [RBB N 1 97], Hammond provides more geographic detail, is easier to use, and will probably appeal to a wider cross-section of readers. Reader's Digest Illustrated Great World Atlas [RBB F 1 98] is a good resource to have in addition, since it is easier to copy (gutters are not so tight), and is more appropriate for younger patrons. Schools, public libraries, and academic libraries should strongly consider purchase of the new edition of Hammond.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth the price,
By TurnerPI@aol.com (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hammond Atlas of the World (Hardcover)
This atlas is the best atlas I have ever seen. It's detail is unsurpassed by any other atlas available. If you want an atlas with great detail outlining all the new boundries, this is the book for you. This book has kept up with all the world border changes.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful cartography!,
By
This review is from: Hammond Atlas of the World (Hardcover)
I looked through 5 atlases at Hasting's Books, and all were very poor. I finally found a copy of the Hammond, and it was by far the nicest, most informative, and accurate of any I have seen. I have spent time in Antarctica, Europe, and all over the US, and this Atlas lists places and features that I know exist but never see in the other atlases. In addition, the color choices, fonts, and map design are quite classical and pleasing to the eye. A joy to look at, just for fun!
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