Formation of the academic direction in Atlas mapping of the regions of Siberia (50th anniversary of the publication of the Atlas of Transbaikalia)

We examine the Atlas of Transbaikalia that was prepared and published in 1967 by the Institute of Geography of Siberia and the Far East SD USSR AS; it marked the beginning of the formation and development of the modern academic direction in atlas mapping of the regions of Siberia. The main preconditions for the formation of this scientific direction are outlined. Presented is the experience in creating a fundamental scientific program of the Atlas using a number of new conceptual and organizational-methodological principles of organizing the contents, developing original scenes and using fractional territorial units for the thematic filling of the map contents, and in drawing on the available high technical level of methods and procedures of semiotic modeling and layout which impart the Atlas not only a regional but also a general scientific significance. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical and methodological issues, and this cartographic product helped to successfully deal with them. It is pointed out that a special role in developing the general scientific program of the Atlas and in planning collaborative efforts of various authors belongs to V. B. Sochava, Editor-in-Chief of the Atlas of Transbaikalia.