By: nikky Howard
Submitted: 2010-06-27 20:24:18 | Word Count: 624
Publisher: Hammond World Atlas CorporationISBN: 0843709375
The Hammond World Atlas Corporation has teamed up with the bestselling World Almanac and Book of Facts in putting along a excellent and academic publication, Hammond World Almanac 2006 World Atlas.
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You can most likely decision this Almanac the bible for world class cartography and information with its two hundred pages of statistics regarding people, ethnic groups, languages, religions, area, capital, GDP, head of state, and governments. And then there are the 100 pages of digital TerraScape Maps that feature three dimensional relief of land and ocean floor terrain.
Once I looked at the "Contents" section of the Almanac, I used to be delighted to work out that there is a piece per the interpretation of maps. How often have you ever looked at a map and you haven't a clue on what all the symbols mean or the map scales and projections?
In clear and precise language the authors of this publication make a case for what are map projections and explore a number of the most widely used projections. They also introduce us to a new projection, the Hammond Optimal Conformal.
For those people who are unfamiliar with the term map projection, we are informed that the challenge faced by mapmakers is to project the world's curved surface onto a flat plane. Consequently, to accomplish this feat, cartographers have developed map projections or formulas that govern this conversion of geographic data. It is potential to identify each purpose on earth with the assistance of a geographic coordinate grid, and this grid is projected onto a flat surface.
From this beginning point we tend to are given explanations of general principles and terms, how to flatten a sphere, selected samples of projections, conic projection and therefore the Hammond Optimal Conformal.
This first section is followed with a comprehensive rationalization on a way to use the map section. It is here where we notice out how boundaries are determined, sources of names, map symbols, colors, labels and map scales.
Armed with all this introductory data we tend to are now ready to look at the globe maps starting with the Europe and Northern Asia and then Asia, Australia and Pacific, Africa, Antarctica, South America, and North America. On the underside of every map there are color codes differentiating the population of the numerous cities and towns. There is also a mileage scale denoted in either miles or kilometers. Detailed and comparative thematic maps, tables, graphs pertaining to each continent, topography, population, land use, mineral resources and consumption are included.
The concluding section or the World Almanac Section presents key facts and figures concerning each nation like their rankings by population and space, major oceans, ocean depths, and islands, rivers, waterfalls, continental altitudes, lakes, reservoirs, dams, highest mountains, temperatures, prime languages, precipitation, population growth, energy and environment.
Examining statistics about a particular nation we have a tendency to notice that what is included is the following: topography, capital town, independence date, type of state, who is the top of state and head of presidency, GDP, industries, chief crops, minerals, life expectancy at birth, literacy rate and a link to the country's internet site.
This almanac may be a magnificent achievement to be savored and repeatedly enjoyed. It fills an academic niche and may be a good addition for libraries, school rooms, and private book collections, where important geographical knowledge is at your finger tips.
Author Resource:-
Nikky has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Almanacs, you can also check out his latest website about:
