| Publisher: Hammond World Atlas Corporation | | | | |
| | | | This initial section is followed with a |
| ISBN: 0843709375 | | | | comprehensive explanation as to how to use |
| | | | the map section. It is here where we find out |
| The Hammond World Atlas Corporation has | | | | how boundaries are determined, sources of |
| teamed up with the bestselling World Almanac | | | | names, map symbols, colors, labels and map |
| and Book of Facts in putting together a | | | | scales. |
| superb and educational publication, Hammond | | | | |
| World Almanac 2006 World Atlas. | | | | Armed with all this introductory data we are |
| | | | now prepared to examine the world maps |
| You can probably call this Almanac the bible | | | | starting with the Europe and Northern Asia |
| for world class cartography and data with its | | | | and then Asia, Australia and Pacific, Africa, |
| 200 pages of facts and figures about people, | | | | Antarctica, South America, and North America. |
| ethnic groups, languages, religions, area, | | | | On the bottom of each map there are color |
| capital, GDP, head of state, and governments. | | | | codes differentiating the population of the |
| And then there are the 100 pages of digital | | | | various cities and towns. There is also a |
| TerraScape Maps that feature three | | | | mileage scale denoted in either miles or |
| dimensional relief of land and ocean floor | | | | kilometers. Detailed and comparative thematic |
| terrain. | | | | maps, tables, graphs pertaining to each |
| | | | continent, topography, population, land use, |
| When I looked at the "Contents" section of | | | | mineral resources and consumption are also |
| the Almanac, I was delighted to see that | | | | included. |
| there is a section pertaining to the | | | | |
| interpretation of maps. How often have you | | | | The concluding section or the World Almanac |
| looked at a map and you haven't a clue as to | | | | Section presents key facts and figures |
| what all the symbols mean or the map scales | | | | concerning every nation such as their |
| and projections? | | | | rankings by population and area, major |
| | | | oceans, ocean depths, and islands, rivers, |
| In clear and precise language the authors of | | | | waterfalls, continental altitudes, lakes, |
| this publication explain what are map | | | | reservoirs, dams, highest mountains, |
| projections and explore some of the most | | | | temperatures, top languages, precipitation, |
| widely used projections. They also introduce | | | | population growth, energy and environment. |
| us to a new projection, the Hammond Optimal | | | | |
| Conformal. | | | | Examining facts and figures about a |
| | | | particular nation we notice that what is |
| For those of us who are unfamiliar with the | | | | included is the following: topography, |
| term map projection, we are informed that the | | | | capital city, independence date, type of |
| challenge faced by mapmakers is to project | | | | government, who is the head of state and head |
| the earth's curved surface onto a flat plane. | | | | of government, GDP, industries, chief crops, |
| Consequently, to accomplish this feat, | | | | minerals, life expectancy at birth, literacy |
| cartographers have developed map projections | | | | rate and a link to the country's web site. |
| or formulas that govern this conversion of | | | | |
| geographic data. It is possible to identify | | | | This almanac is a magnificent achievement to |
| every point on earth with the help of a | | | | be savored and repeatedly enjoyed. It fills |
| geographic coordinate grid, and this grid is | | | | an educational niche and is a perfect |
| projected onto a flat surface. | | | | addition for libraries, classrooms, and |
| | | | personal book collections, where vital |
| From this starting point we are given | | | | geographical data is at your finger tips. |
| explanations of general principles and terms, | | | | |
| how to flatten a sphere, selected examples of | | | | The above review was contributed by: NORM |
| projections, conic projection and the Hammond | | | | GOLDMAN Editor of Bookpleasures. |
| Optimal Conformal. | | | | |