This detailed Limnology is sure to draw in any lover of the Great Lakes - beautifully illustrated with images of the lake, landscape, and the surrounding cities, "The Great Lakes" details the history and future of this incredible natural resource. Gouged from the rock by ice age glaciers, the Great Lakes of the North American Continent collectively cover some 95,000 square miles to form the largest surface area of freshwater in the world. Over thousands of years, the waters of the five Lakes have brought life to the land and supported a rich variety of flora and fauna. More recently, the Lakes have attracted people to their shores, helped feed them, and contributed to the exploration, colonization, and ultimately economic development of the two nations whose border they straddle. It is the lakes that stimulated the settlement and growth of such major cities as Chicago, Toronto, Detroit and Duluth, and it is the lakes that, through various hydro-electric schemes, provide much of the power that their industries require. Since the completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway and its associated system of locks, the importance of the Lakes has grown still further, making cities in the very heartland of America accessible to the ocean-going shipping. Maximizing their economic potential has place a severe strain on the ecology of the lakes, however: pollution caused Erie to be pronounced "dead" in 1960, and the other Lakes risk sharing the same fate. With their varied shoreline, their bird and fish life and the wealth of sporting facilities that they offer, the Great Lakes are a magnificent recreational amenity that it is essential to conserve. Book by Rh Value Publishing