  We obtain exact analytical results for lattices of maps with couplings that
decay with distance as $r^{-\alpha}$. We analyze the effect of the coupling
range on the system dynamics through the Lyapunov spectrum. For lattices whose
elements are piecewise linear maps, we get an algebraic expression for the
Lyapunov spectrum. When the local dynamics is given by a nonlinear map, the
Lyapunov spectrum for a completely synchronized state is analytically obtained.
The critical lines characterizing the synchronization transition are determined
from the expression for the largest transversal Lyapunov exponent. In
particular, it is shown that in the thermodynamical limit, such transition is
only possible for sufficiently long-range interactions, namely, for $\alpha\le
alpha_c<d$, where $d$ is the lattice dimension.
