Synopses & Reviews
Ever since French explorer Samuel de Champlainand#8217;s first taste of what he called and#147;la mer douceand#8221; and#151; the freshwater sea and#151; the Great Lakes have been admired, exploited, and renewed. This vast region is a study in contrasts: a hub of industry thatand#8217;s the resting spot for billions of migrating birds. 40 million residents, immense untamed forests. 95 percent of North Americaand#8217;s fresh water and a dumping ground for poisonous wastes. The Great Lakes is an authoritative, accessible look at an ecosystem in eternal flux. Written by one of North Americaand#8217;s most acclaimed science and nature writers, the book explores the areaand#8217;s geological formation and its role in human history; its diverse plant, bird, and animal species; and its significant physical, climatic, and environmental features. This captivating tribute to the Great Lakes region is also an essential guide to the challenge of preserving the natural world.