Synopses & Reviews
Photographer and writer Tim Palmer has spent more than twenty-five years researching and experiencing life on the waterways of the American continent. He has travelled by canoe or raft on more than 300 different rivers, down wide placid streams and rough raging rapids. His journeys have taken him to every corner of the country, where he has witnessed and described the unique interaction of geographical, historical, and cultural forces that act upon our nation's vital arteries.
America by Rivers represents the culmination of that grand adventure. Palmer describes the rivers of America in all their remaining glory and tarnished beauty, as he presents a comprehensive tour of the whole of America's river systems. Filled with important new information as well as data gathered from hundreds of published sources, America by Rivers covers:
- the network of American waterways and how they fit together to form river systems
- unique features of individual rivers along with their size, length, and biological importance
- environmental problems affecting the rivers of different regions and what is being done to protect and restore them
- cultural connections and conflicts surrounding the rivers of each region
Chapters address the character of rivers in distinct regions of the country, and each chapter highlights one river with a detailed view from the water. Rivers profiled include the Penobscot, Potomac, Suwanee, Minnesota, Niobara, Salmon, Rio Grande, American, Rogue, and Sheenjek. Eighteen maps guide the reader across the country and 100 photos illustrate the splendor of Palmer's fascinating subject.
America by Rivers provides a new way of seeing our country, one that embraces the entire landscape and offers fresh avenues to adventure. It is compelling reading for anyone concerned about the health of our land and the future of our waterways.
"One of the most purposeful ways of understanding America is through its rivers. No one is more suited to this task than Tim Palmer, and he has done a brilliant job." - Tom McGuane
About the Author
Tim Palmer is the author of fourteen books including Lifelines (Island Press, 1994), and Heart of America (Island Press, 1999), Pacific High (Island Press, August 2002).
He has won the best travel and essay book of the year from the Association of Independent Publishers and the National Outdoor Book Award. Also an accomplished photographer, he frequently speaks and gives slide shows to public audiences and college classes nationwide.
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Way to the Water
1
Rivers of the Glaciated Notheast
2
Appalachian Rivers of Green
3
Rich Waters of the Coastal Plain and South
4
The Midwest: Flowing against the Grid
5
Sky-Filled Rivers of the Great Plains
6
Rocky Mountain Lifelines
7
Rivers of the Deserts and Drylands
8
Brilliant Waters of the Sierra Nevada
9
A Land of Rivers in the Northwest
10
The Wild Rivers of Alaska
Appendix 1
The Largest Rivers in America
Appendix 2
Long, Undammed Sections of Rivers
Appendix 3
Rivers Canoed or Rafted by the Author
Sources
Index