The "National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World" combines the vast geographic resources of the National Geographic Society, the world's premiere cartographic authority, with state--of--the--art maps for a paperback atlas of the highest order. This large--format reference guide to the world, with dozens of maps and tables, displays valuable information about our complex planet in an easily accessible format. Up--to--date political and physical maps locate thousands of places around the world. New views of the planet are revealed---from a dazzling image of the earthn from space to a thematic map showing earth's tectonics.Country profiles provide flags and vital statistics for every nation. Tables display key information about time zones, geographic comparisons, and metric conversions. An accompanying 24--page index makes looking up information quick and easy. This concise edition of maps, which paints a colorful portrait of the contemporary world, is the one atlas every home should have.