1931 Chatel and Dollfus Map of the Donbas (Donets Coal Basin), Ukraine

This is a 1931 coal mining map of the Donbas, or Donets Basin, in Ukraine - today the focal point of the Russo-Ukrainian War (2014 - ?). The Donbas has been a key coal mining region since the 1870s.

A Closer Look

The map illustrates the region north of the Sea of Azov. Black triangles mark coal mines, and colors highlight 4 mining districts. Cities, towns, and villages are identified, including Mariupol and Rostov-on-Don. The Don and Donets rivers are illustrated and labeled.

Coal Mining in the Donbas

The Donbas is a portmanteau of 'Donets Basin,' a shortened version of 'Donets Coal Basin.' Coal is one of Ukraine's most important resources, and 90% of it is found in the Donets Coalfield.

The Russo-Ukrainian War

Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts comprise part of the Donbas and produced 30% of Ukraine's exports before the Russo-Ukrainian War began in April 2014. Ukraine stopped doing business with the breakaway regions in mid-March 2017. On February 21, 2022, Russia officially recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics and 3 days later launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As of September 2024, Russia controlled about 80% of the region.

Châtel et Dollfus

Chatel et Dollfus was a coal-trading company chartered in eastern France. It eventually grew into one of the world's leading coal brokerages, with offices across France and Western Europe.

Publication History and Census

This map was created in 1931 for the Atlas Châtel et Dollfus Les Houillères Européennes, published by the Société de Documentation Industrielle. The separate map is not cataloged in OCLC and rarely appears on the private market. The atlas is part of the collections at around a dozen institutions across the United States and Europe and appears on the market from time to time.