Complete Atlas of the World

From Booklist

DK’s new atlas, first published in England, will compete with other medium-sized atlases. It has 330 maps produced by British digital map suppliers, including Cosmographics. The atlas begins with the usual information on the solar system (with Pluto and Eris noted as dwarf planets). Thematic world maps, charts, and tables are divided by subject—climate, health, language, economics, communication, etc. An interesting time line depicts travel times from London to Sydney. The trip took 115 days in 1850, 40 days in1930, and 21 hours in 2005. The continent sections start with North America and end with Australasia. For each continent, in addition to physical and political maps, there is a double-page satellite image ringed with small images of different cities or geographical examples keyed to the large map. The cartography is good, with clear depictions and 12 colors for illustrating elevation. Absent are the many small photos, facts, and charts that surround maps in the publisher’s Great World Atlas (4th ed., 2006). Complete Atlas map sections have large double-page maps with small margins. The majority of city maps, which are really regional maps rather than those of the inner city, are grouped at the end of each continent section. As is usual in atlases produced in the U.S. or Great Britain, there are 51 pages each devoted to North America and Europe, 55 for Asia and 17 for the forgotten continent, Africa. Preceding the index, and following 2 pages of geographical comparisons, are 7 pages devoted to concise information on countries. Montenegro, the newest country in the world, is mentioned here as well as in the map section. The gazetteer lists 100,000 place-names with page numbers, grid squares, and longitude and latitude. Comparable atlases are Oxford Atlas of the World (14th ed., 2007) and Hammond World Atlas (5th ed., 2007). Since Complete Atlas of the World is a new venture, it is recommended for all libraries wanting something really new. For more atlases, see the “Atlas and Dictionary Update.” --Christine Bulson