Salishchev, Konstantin

Born Nov. 7 (20), 1905, in Tula. Soviet geographer and cartographer. Doctor of technical sciences (1940); Honored Scientist of the RSFSR (1966). Member of the CPSU since 1944. Professor at the Moscow Engineering Institute of Geodesy, Aerial Photographic Surveying, and Cartography since 1942 and head of the subdepartment of geodesy and cartography of the department of geography at Moscow State University since 1950.

In 1926 and 1929–30, Salishchev was a geodesist in S. V. Obruchev’s expeditions to the basins of the Indigirka and Kolyma rivers. His main works have dealt with the theory of cartography, map science, the history of cartography, and problems of comprehensive mapping. He has been vice-president of the Geographical Society of the USSR since 1964 and was president from 1968 to 1972 and vice-president from 1964 to 1968 and since 1972 of the International Cartographic Association. He was chairman of the commission on national and regional atlases of the International Geographical Union from 1956 to 1972.

Salishchev was awarded an honorary doctorate in natural sciences by the Humboldt University of Berlin. He has also been awarded four Orders of the Red Banner of Labor and also various medals.