Publisher's Synopsis
Which type of forest is the most prevalent in Pennsylvania? Where does the highest radon contamination occur? How far is Pittsburgh from Altoona and how busy are the highways between? All this information and much more can be found in "The Atlas of Pennsylvania". The investor looking for development potential; the student researching coal resources; the family seeking a nearby vacation: all will find what they want in these pages. With its large format, "The Atlas of Pennsylvania" is a visual cornucopia of five-color maps, photographs, satellite imagery, oblique air and high-altitude photos, wildlife drawings, reproductions of old maps, helpful charts, graphs, and diagrams, and detailed tables. Pennsylvania's natural environment, its resources, people, economy, history, recreational and cultural activities, and its rural and urban communities are clearly and attractively presented and interpreted by experts from all over the state. Altogether this geographical encyclopedia of the Commonwealth is an indispensable tool for homes, schools, and offices.;A cooperative project of Temple University, the University of Pittsburgh, and The Pennsylvania State University, The Atlas brings together information from hundreds of sources. Its 304 pages, including 250 pages of graphics, provide the most extensive coverage of the broadest range of topics ever assembled in a state atlas. The organization of the Atlas makes it attractive to researcher and browser alike. An introductory essay, "The Pennsylvania Mosaic," by Peirce F. Lewis, acquaints the reader with the state's physical and historical background. The four major topical sections on the land and its resources, its history, its human patterns, and its economic activity are filled with facts, figures, and other revelations that will pique the interest of even the most knowledgeable Pennsylvanian. A section of maps and charts devoted solely to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is included, as are appendices on legislative and judicial districts, executive districts, and recommended readings. A set of eight larger-scale reference maps, accompanied by a gazetteer with more than 3,200 listings, serves the reader who needs to find a specific town, river, lake, reservoir, ridge, or mountain.;"The Atlas of Pennsylvania" is a visually inviting and readily accessible source of information for residents and visitors, for individuals and businesses, for government administrators, planners, and decision-makers, and for public interest groups concerned with environmental, social, and political issues indeed, for anyone who wants to learn more about the Keystone State. With its large format (13 " x 15 ") and 304 pages, The Atlas features: striking page and map designs, rendered in muted colors, and expertly produced; a refreshing variety of illustrations multi-color maps, graphs, block diagrams, pen and ink drawings, sketches, photographs, high-altitude and oblique air photos, satellite imagery, and reproductions of old maps; text, closely integrated with the graphics, and written by the editors and 30 contributing specialists; introductory essay by Peirce F.;Lewis that portrays the evolution of Pennsylvania's human landscape; an extensive section on natural vegetation and wildlife; very thorough treatment of historical topics: settlement, wars, industrial growth; a 25-page section showing economic, demographic, and social patterns in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; 8 large-scale reference plates and gazetteer with more than 3,200 listings; and an index with close to 900 entries. Authors' include: David J. Cuff is Associate Professor of Geography at Temple University; William J. Young is Associate Proffessor of Geography at Temple University; Edward K. Muller is Associate Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh; Wilbur Zelinsky is Professor of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Loyola University of Chicago; and Philip Nyden is Associate Professor of Sociology at Loyola University of Chicago.
