Atlases

When your research is focused on a particular place or a particular region, it can help to seek out an atlas. This resource allows you to see where a particular point is in the world, what it rests in relation to, and how it might have changed over time.

For example, the borders of many countries have changed, along with many country names. By using an atlas, you can see just where these changes took place and how the country may have been affected by the changes.

Some of the most commonly used atlases are:

Rand McNally Road Atlas;

Atlas of the World: 17th Edition;

New Concise World Atlas.

The atlases that you can purchase in book form or review at your local library are designed to be laid flat on a table and viewed in that way.

As this might not be convenient for everyone, you might also use atlases that are available online. Google Maps is one example of an online atlas that points out not only the borders of countries and geographic features but specific locations and roads.

Some of the information you can find on an atlas includes:

borders;

country names;

city names;

popular location names;

geographic features;

topographic information;

population counts;

climate;

agriculture;

vegetation;

water resources;

aquatic life;

religions;

natural resources;

earth movement, such as faults;

volcanoes;

politics;

earthquakes.

Many atlases are specialized, so you might find an atlas that focuses on certain features that you need in your research. For example, when you need to talk about the terrain of a region, you will want to find an atlas that speaks to the features.

It might be helpful to go to a library to review available atlases in person before you decide to buy an atlas for yourself. In addition, you might find that the online atlases might be more reliable, as they are updated more frequently and they can be manipulated more easily than a paper map.

Some ways you can use an atlas include:

Review the key/legend before you begin. Because every atlas and page might have a slightly different style, you will want to review the scale and other key points to see what different colors, lines, etc., will mean on the atlas page.

Note specific points. You can use an atlas to find a certain point for your research. If you already know of a city you need to research, it can help to find it on a map to see where it is located in relation to yourself.

Measure latitude and longitude. When you need to have more specific coordinates for research, you can establish latitude and longitude with your atlas; or you can have latitude and longitude coordinates and then determine what city or location is that point.

Compare old atlases with new versions. If you have to speak to history or development, it can help to review different atlases and their information between specific time periods. This can help you see the changes that have taken place and then research why these changes happened, why they were important, etc.

Look at different features between different regions.

Find locations alphabetically. Most atlases are arranged in alphabetical order, with entries beginning with the letter "A" starting off the book and words starting with "Z" at the end. You can find atlases that cover a specific area, or you can find atlases that cover larger geographical regions, depending on your needs.

Move from one location to another. You can use an atlas to figure out how to get from one point to another. For example, when discussing a new concept for your business with an investor, you might talk about how a delivery would move from the warehouse to the customer. Showing this information shows that you have thought the research through at even the most basic level.

Determine distance. If you need to know how far the distance is between two points, using an atlas can help. While there are online tools that might be more precise, it is a good idea to think about how you might measure the distance on your own.

Atlases often are forgotten with the advent of online mapping and Global Positioning System technology, but many explorers have developed and used them, and you too can use them in your research.

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