The Dynamic Great Lakes

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written
Review: I have a great interest in saving our environment. The only way to do this is through knowledge. I am thankful to the authors that bring their vast knowledge to the reading public.

This book is a masterpiece, filled with fascinating information and references. Barbara Spring has done an outstanding job of bringing her love of the Great Lakes to others. I have been watching the return of the bald eagles to New England. What a wonderous sight to see them soaring overhead after an absence of many years. This was made possible by active ecologists and hard working nature enthusiasts. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about saving the Great Lakes. I feel that this book should be a required read for science classes.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written
Review: I have a great interest in saving our environment. The only way to do this is through knowledge. I am thankful to the authors that bring their vast knowledge to the reading public.

This book is a masterpiece, filled with fascinating information and references. Barbara Spring has done an outstanding job of bringing her love of the Great Lakes to others. I have been watching the return of the bald eagles to New England. What a wonderous sight to see them soaring overhead after an absence of many years. This was made possible by active ecologists and hard working nature enthusiasts. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about saving the Great Lakes. I feel that this book should be a required read for science classes.

Rating:
Summary: Recommended Reading
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who lives on or near the Great Lakes or to anyone interested in preserving the environment. The author taught me as much about the havoc the modern world has strewn on the natural world as she did about Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Erie.

Rating:
Summary: Many of us know very little about the five Great Lakes
Review: Many of us know very little about the five Great Lakes other than perhaps being able to name them. As Barbara Spring states in her introduction to her outstanding primer The Dynamic Great Lakes they are "a flowing river of seas left behind by Ice Age glaciers and are nearly twenty percent of the world's supply of fresh surface water; the world's greatest freshwater system." The ecosystem of this great body of water is very complex and unfortunately due to pollution and the fallout of modern industry and agriculture they have gone through a gradual transformation.

One of the unique characteristics of this compact book is that it is written in a language devoid of esoteric explanations. The eight chapters of the book reflect the author's teaching and journalistic aptitudes in knowing how to unravel the mystery of the Great Lakes and the many painful dangers it has faced and continues to face.

Each of the five Lakes is introduced with a brief synopsis of important elements distinguishing one from the other such as: elevation, length, breadth, average depth, maximum depth, volume, water area, retention time, population and outlet. From this point of departure the author deals with the various changes that have taken place as well as the various major issues affecting the Lakes. There are also brief descriptions of the various animal life found in each of the Lakes and how they have been affected by pollution and the appearance of harmful species, such as the Lamprey Eel.

However, we are also reminded throughout the reading of the book that "people power" can have an effect and if we band together and make our voices heard we could exert influence in reversing some of the harmful trends that have caused ecological disaster. For example we are apprised of the situation that occurred in relation to Lake Erie. In 1969 a tributary river of Lake Erie, the Cayahoga, caught on fire due to being heavily coated with oil and debris. As a result, the Federal Water Quality Administration launched a one and half billion dollar municipal sewage treatment program for the Erie Basin which included the five surrounding states: Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.

The conclusion of the book most appropriately reminds us that: "we are all challenged to use our knowledge, creativity and common sense to keep the Great Lakes great. Can you think of ways to think globally and act locally?" We are also warned " life on earth is only possible as long as our limited life support system works."

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com

Rating:
Summary: A Cautionary Book
Review: The Dynamic Great Lakes
By Barbara Spring
Connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie form the world's largest freshwater system, and account for almost 20 percent of the Earth's fresh surface water. Due to commercial fishing, the introduction of harmful exotic species, and air and water pollution, the precious ecosystem of the Great Lakes is under constant duress. In her cautionary book, environmental activist and professor Spring enthusiastically explores the Great Lakes, and clearly explains why they should be protected.
Book Sense

Rating:
Summary: Description book
Review: The five great lakes are between the boundaries of Canada and USA. The book describes the lakes, one by one with lots of details. The great lakes are the most important liquid water reserve. Each lake is different. There are ecosystems like nowhere in the world. We have to protect them. The lakes are not usually well known, so with this book, you discover a fantastic area !!

Rating:
Summary: The Dynamic Great Lakes
Review: This is a wonderful book about the Great Lakes and its unique ecosystem. It contains important new information about toxic Plutonium being stored near the waters edge at Nuclear Power Plants along the coast of Lake Michigan. Every citizen concerned about the ecological future of the Great Lakes should read this book!

Rating:
Summary: The Dynamic Great Lakes
Review: This is a wonderful book about the Great Lakes and its unique
ecosystem. It contains important new information about toxic
plutonium being stored close to the waters edge at several
nuclear power plants along the coast of Lake Michigan. Every citizen concerned about the ecological future of the Great Lakes
should read this book!

Rating:
Summary: The Dynamic Great Lakes
Review: This is a wonderful book about the Great Lakes and its unique
ecosystem. It contains important new information about toxic
plutonium being stored close to the waters edge at several
nuclear power plants along the coast of Lake Michigan. Every citizen concerned about the ecological future of the Great Lakes
should read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Written out of appreciation
Review: Written out of appreciation for a most marvelous natural ecosystem, The Dynamic Great Lakes by Barbara Spring is an excellent written, insightfully presented, and engaging guide to the true natures of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Chapters cover how the Great Lakes were formed, their physical characteristics and the history of their changes, problems that affect them today and offered solutions, and more. An important contribution to our understanding of the Great Lakes system, The Dynamic Great Lakes is a wondrous and informative read, recommended for school and community library environmental studies reading lists and reference collections.