How to Use an Atlas

An atlas is a collection of maps compiled into an easy-to-use format. It usually has an accompanying gazetteer, which is an alphabetical listing of place names and their pronunciations. Atlases may be general in nature and cover the entire globe, or they may be specific to geographical locations, topics or time periods. Specialized atlases exist in a wide variety of topics. Most libraries have atlases in their reference sections.

Instructions

1. Choose an atlas that has the information you need. If you need current maps, an historical atlas is not the best choice.

2. Make sure the copyright is current, if you use an atlas for driving directions. Road map atlases become dated within a matter of years.

3. Determine the layout of the atlas. Look at the introductory material. Note the basic geographical definitions you are given. This helps you interpret the maps.

4. Study the key or legend to the maps. Each publisher uses different symbols, so it's important to know what you are looking at on the maps.

5. Use the table of contents to find maps for your research. You can find entire groups of maps you can use here.

6. Reference the index or gazetteer too. This is normally found in the back of the atlas, although some publishers place it in the introductory section. The index or gazetteer gives the page numbers of the maps you are looking for. Along with the pronunciation of the place name, it gives you longitude and latitude coordinates as well.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• View maps at MSN.