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National Geographic Field Guide to the Water's Edge: Beaches, Shorelines, and Riverbanks
The book guides the exploring naturalist to water's edge destinations throughout North America including Canada and Alaska.
Main sections of the book cover three ocean coastlines--Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific; estuaries and wetlands; lakes, including the Great Lakes; and rivers, from the great Mississippi and Columbia to backyard streams. Identification guides and interesting information on plants, animals, shells, and other curiosities to be found along each water's edge accompany photographs and illustrations. Useful and inviting sidebars enhance every
· Shore Science--Quick hits and fascinating facts of science along the water's edge
· Stay Safe--Alerts about shoreline dangers and how to avoid or respond to them
· Beachcomber's Guide--Illustrated key to objects found in each beach and shoreline region
· Save the Shore--Notes on how humans can hurt--and help--shoreline ecology
· Best Water's Edge--Throughout, "Dr. Beach" recommends the top beach or shoreline destinations
The book is profusely illustrated with photographs, maps, and explanatory diagrams. An introductory section provides a thorough overview of the basic science of How water interacts with land to form beaches; how various kinds of shorelines formed; why large waves are needed to form beaches; how floods and fast-moving water alters river shorelines; how the gravitational pull of the moon and sun cause the tides; why the oceans have tides but the Great Lakes don't; how tides affect rivers far inland; the effects of latitude and climate on the formation of shorelines, including variations in plants and animals. This opening sets up all the science necessary to understand and use the rest of the book.
Main sections of the book cover three ocean coastlines--Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific; estuaries and wetlands; lakes, including the Great Lakes; and rivers, from the great Mississippi and Columbia to backyard streams. Identification guides and interesting information on plants, animals, shells, and other curiosities to be found along each water's edge accompany photographs and illustrations. Useful and inviting sidebars enhance every
· Shore Science--Quick hits and fascinating facts of science along the water's edge
· Stay Safe--Alerts about shoreline dangers and how to avoid or respond to them
· Beachcomber's Guide--Illustrated key to objects found in each beach and shoreline region
· Save the Shore--Notes on how humans can hurt--and help--shoreline ecology
· Best Water's Edge--Throughout, "Dr. Beach" recommends the top beach or shoreline destinations
The book is profusely illustrated with photographs, maps, and explanatory diagrams. An introductory section provides a thorough overview of the basic science of How water interacts with land to form beaches; how various kinds of shorelines formed; why large waves are needed to form beaches; how floods and fast-moving water alters river shorelines; how the gravitational pull of the moon and sun cause the tides; why the oceans have tides but the Great Lakes don't; how tides affect rivers far inland; the effects of latitude and climate on the formation of shorelines, including variations in plants and animals. This opening sets up all the science necessary to understand and use the rest of the book.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 13, 2013
I picked this up off the bargain shelf at the bookstore. It is really good at giving basic natural history and physical science information about water and the flora and fauna at the water's edge.
December 1, 2016
This isn't a bad beginner guide to shoreline animals. If you're going into a shoreline ecosystem blind give it a shot.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews