World Map 1:2,500,000
Encyclopedia
The World Map 1:2,500,000 is an internationally standardized and edited map series
. The term Карта Мира or in transcription Karta Mira is now commonly used to describe this series, even outside the Soviet Union
or Russia
. The Karta Mira consists of a total of 224 main sheets and 38 overlap sheets. They depict the entire earth (land and water surfaces) according to a uniform scale, coloring and drawing system. The Karta Mira 1956-1975 was produced by cartographers from Bulgaria
, Czechoslovakia
, the German Democratic Republic
, Hungary
, Poland
, Romania
and the Soviet Union.
The production of a 1:2,500,000 scale map of the world had been discussed since the late 1940s, partly because many cartographers were dissatisfied with the work on the International Map of the World
(or Millionth Map, after its scale of 1:1,000,000). Due to the destruction of the Central Bureau of the Map of the World in London during World War II
, the Millionth Map had suffered a serious setback, and it was uncertain whether that series could ever be completed.
The initiative for the production of the Karta Mira was taken by cartographers from Hungary (Alexander Radó
, Peter Halasz, E. Foldi, Istvan Joo), the Soviet Union (Grigory A. Ginzburg (Григорий А. Гинзбург), Ilya Andreyevich Kutuzov (Илья Андреевич Кутузов)) and the GDR (Erfried Haack, Horst Nischan, Manfred Pateisat).
Production of the 262 sheets was divided between the Geodetic Services of the participating countries. Thus, the sheets to be produced in the GDR were printed by VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha and VEB Kombinat Geodäsie und Kartographie in Leipzig
and Potsdam
. The sheets to be produced in the Soviet Union were created by the Department of Geodesy and Cartography (Главное Управление геодезии и картографии) in Moscow
. Proofs of several of the sheets involved in the series were presented by East German cartographers at an international conference in Erfurt
in December 1963.
The first four sheets were published in 1964, and the final sheets of the first edition in 1976. Publication of a second edition began in 1989.
Map series
A map series is a group of topographic or thematic maps or charts usually having the same scale and cartographic specifications, and with each sheet appropriately identified by its publisher as belonging to the same series....
. The term Карта Мира or in transcription Karta Mira is now commonly used to describe this series, even outside the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
or Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The Karta Mira consists of a total of 224 main sheets and 38 overlap sheets. They depict the entire earth (land and water surfaces) according to a uniform scale, coloring and drawing system. The Karta Mira 1956-1975 was produced by cartographers from Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and the Soviet Union.
The production of a 1:2,500,000 scale map of the world had been discussed since the late 1940s, partly because many cartographers were dissatisfied with the work on the International Map of the World
International Map of the World
The International Map of the World was a project begun in 1913 to create a complete map of the world according to internationally agreed standards...
(or Millionth Map, after its scale of 1:1,000,000). Due to the destruction of the Central Bureau of the Map of the World in London during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Millionth Map had suffered a serious setback, and it was uncertain whether that series could ever be completed.
The initiative for the production of the Karta Mira was taken by cartographers from Hungary (Alexander Radó
Alexander Rado
Alexander Radó, born as Sándor Radó and also known as Alexander Radolfi , was a Hungarian cartographer and a Soviet military intelligence agent in World War II.-Life:...
, Peter Halasz, E. Foldi, Istvan Joo), the Soviet Union (Grigory A. Ginzburg (Григорий А. Гинзбург), Ilya Andreyevich Kutuzov (Илья Андреевич Кутузов)) and the GDR (Erfried Haack, Horst Nischan, Manfred Pateisat).
Production of the 262 sheets was divided between the Geodetic Services of the participating countries. Thus, the sheets to be produced in the GDR were printed by VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha and VEB Kombinat Geodäsie und Kartographie in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
. The sheets to be produced in the Soviet Union were created by the Department of Geodesy and Cartography (Главное Управление геодезии и картографии) in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Proofs of several of the sheets involved in the series were presented by East German cartographers at an international conference in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
in December 1963.
The first four sheets were published in 1964, and the final sheets of the first edition in 1976. Publication of a second edition began in 1989.
External links
- A detailed description of the Karta Mira - GITTA - Geographic Information Technology Training Alliance
- Map index of the Karta Mira (Map collectionMap collectionA map collection is a storage facility for maps, usually in a library, archive, or museum, or at a map publisher or public authority, and the maps and other cartographic items stored within that facility....
of the University of Greifswald)