Outdoor enthusiasts such as fly fishers, historians, bird-watchers, and others are excited about the recently released Prince Edward Island Atlas. Produced by the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, the 2005 atlas builds on the success of the earlier PEI Road Atlas by providing users with more accurate and up-to-date information on many Island features.
“This new map book edition is based on aerial photography and ground analysis conducted for the 2000 Land Use Inventory and includes information on natural features such as forest cover, streams, wetlands, sand dunes, and land contours,” said Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem. “People can use it to find Scenic Heritage Roads, Confederation Trail access points, pioneer cemeteries, golf courses, demonstration woodlot trails, and much, much more. In turn, they will learn more about this unique and exciting place we call home.”
The map book was created by the department’s Resource Inventory and Modelling section using the latest in remote sensing and map-making technology. In order to provide as much information as possible, the book divides the Island into 43 separate pages, providing complete coverage from East Point to North Cape. Each map contains community and road names, route numbers for all primary and secondary roads, building locations, filling points for fire vehicles, pond locations, and a variety of other information people require for many different reasons.
During the 1990s, nearly six percent of the Island’s forest was lost due to permanent conversion to other uses such as agricultural production and blueberries. The new map book updates older forest cover outline information by removing the areas converted to other uses. However, it does not include information on species, harvest activity or other forest uses.
The Minister noted that most of Prince Edward Island’s land is privately owned. Therefore, he urged atlas users to obtain permission before crossing or entering any private lands.
While numbers are limited, the new book is available at the J. Frank Gaudet Tree Nursery on Upton Road or Island Information Service in Charlottetown, for $30 plus taxes. Copies of the older PEI Road Atlas are still available at the old price of $12.95 plus taxes.
For more information on the new Prince Edward Island Atlas, contact the Department of Environment, Energy, and Forestry at (902) 368-4700.