Interpretive atlas goes beyond presenting raw data and is a methodological criterion as well. ALE represents a necessary development out of previously published or previously conceived nationaland language group atlases as well as a necessary development from raw data to interpretive atlases. The area covered by ALE extends as far east as the Ural mountains and as far south as the northern side of the Caucasian chain. It is the area most used by geographers for the delineation of Europe. ALE can have only geographical boarders for the continuum of dialects often crosses the political frontiers.
ALE represents an innovation of considerable significance.
An unquestionable achievement of ALE's organization is the preparation of linguistic maps of previously unstudied areas of Europe and the synthesis of these with existing language group atlases. Atlas Linguarum Europae's contribution towards the progress of linguistic geography andlinguistic history is unprecedented. Olin, Disk HC59.7 W911 World Bank data is notably more accessible now that the Bank's new CD-ROM's have been added to Olin. The Global Development Finance CD provides exportable files on the external debt and equity financial flow data of 150 countries. Each annual disk includes additional data on international trade, payments, and capital flows.