By: nikky Howard
Submitted: 2010-07-08 22:13:08 | Word Count: 630
The Hammond World Atlas Corporation has teamed up with the bestselling World Almanac and Book of Facts in putting along a excellent and instructional publication, Hammond World Almanac 2006 World Atlas.
You'll be able to probably decision this Almanac the bible for world category cartography and knowledge with its two hundred pages of facts and figures regarding folks, ethnic teams, languages, religions, space, capital, GDP, head of state, and governments. And then there are the 100 pages of digital TerraScape Maps that feature 3 dimensional relief of land and ocean floor terrain.
[ advertisement ]
Once I checked out the "Contents" section of the Almanac, I was delighted to determine that there is a bit regarding the interpretation of maps. How often have you looked at a map and you haven't a clue as to 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 some of the foremost widely used projections. They additionally introduce us to a new projection, the Hammond Optimal Conformal.
For those of us who are unfamiliar with the term map projection, we are informed that the challenge faced by mapmakers is to project the planet'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 doable to identify each purpose on earth with the help of a geographic coordinate grid, and this grid is projected onto a flat surface.
From this beginning point we are given explanations of general principles and terms, a way to flatten a sphere, selected samples of projections, conic projection and the Hammond Optimal Conformal.
This primary section is followed with a comprehensive rationalization on the way to use the map section. It is here where we tend to realize out how boundaries are determined, sources of names, map symbols, colours, labels and map scales.
Armed with all this introductory information we have a tendency to are now ready to look at the world maps beginning with the Europe and Northern Asia and then Asia, Australia and Pacific, Africa, Antarctica, South America, and North America. On the underside of each map there are color codes differentiating the population of the varied cities and towns. There's additionally 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 also included.
The concluding section or the World Almanac Section presents key statistics regarding each nation like their rankings by population and area, major oceans, ocean depths, and islands, rivers, waterfalls, continental altitudes, lakes, reservoirs, dams, highest mountains, temperatures, top languages, precipitation, population growth, energy and environment.
Examining facts and figures concerning a explicit nation we have a tendency to notice that what is included is the subsequent: topography, capital city, independence date, sort of government, who is the head of state and head of presidency, GDP, industries, chief crops, minerals, life expectancy at birth, literacy rate and a link to the country's web site.
This almanac may be a magnificent achievement to be savored and repeatedly enjoyed. It fills an educational niche and is a excellent addition for libraries, lecture rooms, and personal book collections, where important geographical information is at your finger tips.
Author Resource:-
Nik 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:
