TRENDS IN ATLAS MAPPING IN RUSSIA (2002-07)

N.N. Komedchikov, A.G. Khropov

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

nnk@rambler.ru

The Russian cartographic market demonstrates an unprecedented rise in offers of various geographical atlases: more than 100 titles were issued during the last six years. In the history of cartography in Russia and in the former Soviet Union there were no other periods comparable in terms of number of new published atlases. There are several factors responsible for this extraordinary boom of atlas mapping in Russia, such as the abolition of state monopoly and secrecy-related restrictions in the sphere of cartographic activities, changes in social and economical standards of living, the interest of federal ministries and other authorities in compilation of geographical atlases, financial support from nongovernmental and governmental foundations and private sponsors, etc.

Geographical atlases published in Russia during the last six years are analyzed in terms of coverage and map scales (ranging from the atlases of the Solar system and the entire world to cities, and even individual geographical objects within cities), themes and contents, size and volume, design and purposes (general geographical atlases, atlases of natural and socioeconomical features as well as complex atlases depicting both natural and socioeconomical conditions and resources, etc.).