Synopses & Reviews
A passionate tale of Alaskan exploration and discovery in North America's most controversial wildlife refuge.
The nineteen-million-acre Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) contains three to eight billion barrels of crude oil. Conservationists and developers have fought bitterly over the land for the last half-century, an era in which petroleum has virtually come to define Alaska. Struggling to combat the big-money politics that threaten ANWR, the conservation efforts of one couple, Olaus and Mardy Murie, have made them legendary.
Jonathan Waterman blends historical narrative with vivid tales of his journeys into the Arctic, creating tension between past and present, science and politics, reflection and investigation. Since 1983, he has taken eighteen trips into the far North, trekking and paddling thousands of miles and encountering howling wolves, Inupiat hunters, and the oil-ravaged Prince William Sound. Where Mountains Are Nameless explores how oil exploration has choked Alaska's pristine wilderness and also traces the lives of the celebrated Muries. This memorable portrait makes the stakes over ANWR vividly clear.
Review
"Waterman is an excellent champion for the refuge: his scientific knowledge, writing skills, and moderate stance give his views genuine authority and make for a glowing tribute to the 19-million-acre refuge." Booklist
Review
"[A] strong argument against the development of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge." Library Journal
About the Author
Jonathan Waterman is a renowned adventurer and the author of nine books, including In the Shadow of Denali and Arctic Crossing. He lives near Aspen, Colorado.