THE GREAT LAKES: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A CHANGING REGION

THE GREAT LAKES: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A CHANGING REGION Five immense lakes lie at the heart of North America. They cover an area of nearly 95,000 square miles & hold more than 5,500 cubic miles of water. Together they comprise the world's largest freshwater system, containing 95 percent of the continent's fresh water - & one-fifth of the planet's total supply. Home to 40 million people, the Great Lakes' drainage basin is the hub of industry & agriculture in North America. More than a region; it is almost a nation in itself.The Great Lakes: A Natural History of a Changing Region is the most authoritative, complete & accessible book to date about the biology & ecology of this vital, ever-changing terrain. It begins with an account of the geological formation of the lakes & an overview of the lakes' role in relatively recent human history. Grady takes readers through the lakes basin, defined & explored by its three component forest ecosystems: the Boreal, the Great Lakes/St Lawrence & the Carolinian Forests. Representative flora & fauna species are profiled, along with notable physical, climatic, & environmental features.The Great Lakes is both a first-hand tribute & an essential guide to a fascinating ecosystem in eternal flux.ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Wayne Grady is a foremost popular science writer & the winner of 3 Science in Society awards. He lives near Kingston, Ontario. ISBN: 1-55365-804-3 publish date: 04/30/2011