National Atlas of the Arctic

Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society
Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society

The 29th of June at Moscow Head Quarters of the Russian Geographical Society there took place presentation of the National Atlas of the Arctic. The employees of 11 ministries and departments, 26 organizations, more than 200 scientists and specialists of the highest qualification had been working at it. Four of them are the  academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences and 6 of them are corresponding members of the RAS.

The Atlas was created by Roskartografia JSC on behalf of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Nikolay Kasimov is editor-in-chief of the Atlas.

 

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The First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Nikolay Kasimov, the editor-in-chief of the Atlas. Photo by the press-service of the RGS
The First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Nikolay Kasimov, the editor-in-chief of the Atlas. Photo by the press-service of the RGS

Scientists, military, polar explorers, employees of various departments, ministries and journalists took part in the event.

Thus, special representative of the President of Russia on climate issues Alexander Bedritskiy noted the timeliness of the Atlas. «I suppose that the material, which entered the Atlas, surely will be a new basis for forecasting and planning activities in the Arctic region. This meets the political, social and human needs», - Bedritskiy said.

The First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Arthur Chilingarov called the Atlas release a landmark event.

Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Corresponding Member of RAS, supported Alexander Bedritskiy in that the publication should become a reference book for researchers of the Arctic, and thanked the authors on behalf of all the polar explorers. «I am very glad, that there is bottom topography map in the Atlas (Approx. Ed.: at the point of the geographical North Pole), where I happened to visit and establish the Russian flag», - Chilingarov noted.

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The First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Arthur Chilingarov. Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society
The First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Arthur Chilingarov. Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society

Each of the participants of the presentation emphasized that the creators did a tremendous job in a short time - it took only three years. Deputy head of Rosreestr Sergei Miroshnichenko told how it happened: «In the first, 2015-th year, the work was carried out on conceptual directions. The 2016 is the most difficult in fact, when the content of texts, maps was worked at. And in 2017 there were executed polygraphic works». Miroshnichenko said that this year there would also be an expanded electronic version of the Atlas, where more than 300 maps would be added.

The scientific leader of the Atlas, Honorary President of the Russian Geographical Society Vladimir Kotlyakov noted that the creators of the folio overcame many difficulties, including because high latitudes are complex for mapping. According to his words, the release of Atlas, our country has confirmed its leadership in this field: «Russia is traditionally one of the main cartographic countries. We are always at the height of publishing cartographic works. This Atlas is of great importance both for our country and for the whole world, since the attention of dozens of countries is drawn to the Arctic, it is looked upon as a huge field of natural resources».

 

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National Atlas of the Arctic. Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society
National Atlas of the Arctic. Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society

The First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Nikolay Kasimov, the editor-in-chief of the Atlas, told in details about all 22 sections of the book, covering the characteristics of this territory from geology to demography, from ecology to international cooperation. Then Nikolai Sergeyevich answered numerous questions of the journalists.

«Perhaps Atlas is one of the largest information systems that exist across the Arctic. This format will be extremely useful for decision-makers, both for scientists and for higher education», - Nikolay Kasimov summed up.

The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Svetlana Radchenko, USSR pilot-cosmonaut, President of the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Victor Savinykh, Dean of the Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University Sergey Dobrolyubov and other honored guests.

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Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society
Photo by the press-service of the Russian Geographical Society

 The Atlas is published in A3 hardcover format with embossing. Circulation makes 1000 copies. It contains 496 pages and 22 sections, including: «Geological structure», «Relief», «Resources of the bowels», «Evolution of the natural environment», «Climate», «Seas shores», «Dry land waters», "Soil cover», «Economy», «Land use», «Cultural, spiritual and natural heritage» and others.