At last, an official national atlas

The Jakarta Post | Thu, 02/05/2009 10:08 PM  

The National Coordinating Agency for Surveys and Mapping (Bakosurtanal) launched for the first time in the nation's history the Official National Atlas of Indonesia, which has taken to produce at a cost of Rp 2 billion (US$170,000) to produce. 

"I should say it's about time we had an official atlas. We're very late in achieving this compared to other nations," Research and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman said at the launching of the atlas on Thursday. 

Kusmayanto said the closest thing the nation has ever had to a national atlas has been the Netherland Indies Atlas, a legacy of the Dutch colonial period, which was published back in 1938.

"That map was so outdated, it was no longer fit for use." he said. 

Agency head Rudolf W. Matindas said the new atlas had come a long way from its colonial predecessor. 

The publication is replete with themed maps, illustrations, photographs and satellite images. "We can see how much the size of the areas of green space, irrigation and the transportation systems have changed." 

The atlas also points out in detail the nation's disaster-prone areas along with pictures and illustrations of the impact of the 2004 tsunami in Aceh. 

The atlas is to be published in three volumes. The first explains at length the nation's natural traits, including its climatic, geological and marine conditions. 

The second volume will focus on the archipelago's natural resources and potential. The third will address the country's history, culture and political borders, and it may include a new official enumeration of the nation's islands, Rudolf said. (dis)

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