From Booklist
The fourth edition of the Hammond World Atlas is really a new edition from the "Mapmakers of the 21st Century." Changes from the third edition, published in 2000, include a "Thematic Section" that has a broader scope with different titles; e.g., "Languages" becomes "Global Linguistic Diversity." The double-page spreads in this section have fewer atlas features and look more like encyclopedia articles. Thin colored lines lead readers from words in the text to photos, but sometimes the lines are difficult to follow. The population page in the earlier edition had a world map with a point of light for every 50,000 people, maps showing annual rate of population increase and density, and graphs of other population information. In the fourth edition the population page has three graphs, a small table with growth projections by continent, and text with illustrative photographs but no maps. Hammond's new "Satellite Photo Section" contains 48 pages of beautiful photography illustrating subjects such as environmental problems (a carpet of algae off the Adriatic coast), settlement patterns (Venice and New York), and volcanism (Mount St. Helens). The photographs have an accompanying explanation paragraph; unfortunately, Mount St. Helens is identified as being in Oregon. The name of satellite or imaging process, ground resolution, exposure altitude, and date of the image are also included.The most important part of the atlas, the "Map Section," contains 180 maps in a similar arrangement to the previous edition. The physical maps are from actual digital elevation data using new colors. The map paper is shiny, which is a change from earlier editions. There are new maps--one of Alaska almost fills a page, and Hawaii is a quarter of a page. Maps of cities and metropolitan areas are either inset maps or grouped together on a few pages. The New York City map has been updated since 9/11. There is no city map of Baghdad. The statistical tables are revised, with some cities declining in population. These tables are easy to read, with dots connecting the city to the statistic. The index supposedly still has 110,000 entries. The Canadian territory Nunavut has been dropped from the index, and Nunapitchuk, Alaska, appears to have taken its place. Unlike Oxford's Atlas of the World (see above), Hammond lacks detailed country information, and there are no flags. The fourth edition of the Hammond World Atlas is recommended as a first purchase among medium-sized atlases for academic, public, and high-school libraries. It is a complete revision with new material, and, most importantly, the maps are fantastic. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
The new Hammond World Atlas, Fourth Edition is completely updated. It features an exciting new map style with enhanced relief that makes topographic features leap off the page. It has a beautiful new cover design and compelling new thematic articles. One hundred twenty totally new content pages make it the perfect tool for exploring and understanding the world in which we live. Enhanced Terra-Scape maps featuring hypsometric and bathymetric tints vividly display land and ocean floor terrain. Sixty-four new pages of compelling articles on a variety of global concerns are accompanied by stunning photographic and thematic maps, tables and graphs. Forty-eight new pages of breathtaking satellite imagery with interpretive text add further understanding to the earth and its surface. It's easy to use with 110,000-entry Master index, quick reference guide, population chart, world locator, and time zone maps. The Hammond World Atlas, Fourth Edition is a wonderful addition! to any bookshelf or coffee table and sets the pace for other atlases.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The flagship Hammond World Atlas has been updated for 2000. It contains spectacular digital cartography, breathtaking satellite imagery, and exclusive Terra-Scape maps, featuring hypsometric and bathymetric tints that vividly display land and ocean floor terrain. There are thematic maps and graphs on population, standards of living, agriculture and manufacturing, climate and the environment. Also included within its 312 pages are an easy-to-use, 100,000 entry Master Index, a Quick Reference Guide, a population chart, a world locator, time zone maps, and 60 inset maps of major metropolitan areas.

SYNOPSIS

The new Hammond World Atlas, Fourth Edition is completely updated. It features an exciting new map style with enhanced relief that makes topographic features leap off the page. It has a beautiful new cover design and compelling new thematic articles, perfect reference tool for exploring the world in which we live. Enhanced Terra-Scape maps, featuring hypsometric and bathymetric tints vividly display land and ocean floor terrain with 64 pages of compelling articles on a variety of global concerns, accompanied by stunning photographic and thematic maps, tables and graphs. It's east to use with 110,000-entry Master index, quick reference guide, population chart, world locator, time zone maps and breathtaking satellite imagery.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

The new edition of the Oxford Atlas of the World is a splendid achievement in geographical reference. The 176 pages of full-color, computer-generated maps reflect all of the most recent geopolitical changes in detailed and dramatic terrain modeling, with a dedicated page of maps featuring current world hot spots. A special city map section with its own 8000-entry index covers 67 major international metropolitan areas with 38 close-up maps of city centers; more than 70 world and regional thematic maps with illustrations and text explore topics from demographics and economics to the environment. The general index features 75,000 entries with full geographic coordinates. An "Images of Earth" section presents 17 stunning, full-page satellite photos, and a 32-page gazetteer section provides ready-reference information arranged alphabetically with data boxes, country summaries, and official flags, including East Timor and the latest designs for Afghanistan, Comoros, and Rwanda. This superior reference is an extraordinary value and is highly recommended for all reference collections. The handsome new edition of the Hammond World Atlas competes directly with the Oxford Atlas: the two share size, price, and format, but the former lacks the gazetteer and separate city maps. Major metropolitan areas appear mostly as insets in regional maps, rather than in their own section with detailing of city centers. Hammond's text and maps are completely up-to-date, and there is a richly illustrated 64-page "Thematic Section," a 48-page "Satellite Section" with color photos and commentary, and 181 pages of full-color physical and political maps representing the world, continents, and regions with state-of-the-art, detailed, computer-generated terrain modeling. The index features 110,000 entries, and the alphabetically arranged Quick Reference Guide" provides basic geographical statistics and, when applicable, capitals for continents, countries, states, provinces, and territories. The high quality of the cartography and the up-to-the-minute material make this atlas an excellent geographical reference resource, recommended for most libraries. However, the gazetteer and city maps section give the Oxford Atlas the overall edge.-Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews