Exploring the Great Lakes

Native people have been living around the Great Lakes for thousands of years. As European settlers arrived, they soon learned that the land around the Great Lakes was an ideal place to settle. Readers learn the history of Great Lakes settlement and much more. Full-color photographs showcase the lakes' beauty, while social studies content introduces the many cities in the region. From the mammoth metropolis Toronto, Ontario, to the struggling cities of the Rust Belt, the population centers around the Great Lakes change, survive, and continue to depend on the Great Lakes for transportation, industry, and recreation.

The surface of the Great Lakes covers 94,250 square miles (244,106 sq. km). About 40 million people in the United States and Canada drink water from the Great Lakes, and millions of birds, fish, and other animals make their homes there. Much will be lost if the lakes aren't protected. Readers are introduced to Great Lakes conservation issues, including climate change, mining, and water quality. Full-color images and detailed sidebars accompany main content consistent with the social studies curriculum. The knowledge reader's gain is sure to inspire the next generation of environmental warriors needed to save this precious ecosystem.

The historical significance of the Great Lakes region stretches from thousands of years ago to the present day. Home to factories, important historical landmarks, and miles of coastline, the Great Lakes region is steeped in the past, but looking ahead to the future. Readers follow the growth of the Great Lakes, beginning with early battles to settle and control the region. Sidebars add to the main content's discussion of significant events, while readers travel through the area's past with the help of photographs and historical images. Colorful maps of the region show readers where history happened and introduce the region's major rivers, states, and landforms.

The importance of biodiversity in the Great Lakes watershed cannot be overemphasized. The thousands of kinds of plants and animals that live in the lakes' habitats affect the health of the lakes, just as the lakes' health affects the wildlife. Readers learn about the many habitats of the Great Lakes region and conservation efforts that continue to restore and protect them. Full-color photographs accompany in-depth profiles of plants and animals, such as the Canada goose and brook trout, in the region. Sidebars introduce even more wildlife information, which augments the social studies and science curriculum students learn in the classroom.

The Great Lakes watershed can be traveled from end to end-from the St. Lawrence River all the way to Duluth, Minnesota. In order for that to happen, man-made waterways had to be constructed to bypass rapids and aid ships moving from one water depth to another. Readers travel the basin through main content that includes geography, history, and interesting details that tie it all together. Descriptive maps of the region aid understanding and complement map skills emphasized in the social studies curriculum. Readers see how all the waterways work together to make one vibrant region.

The Great Lakes region offers so many places to visit; it's hard to pare down the choices! From the natural wonders of Niagara Falls and the Michigan sand dunes to the big-city fun of Chicago and Toronto, there's a lot to see and do. Readers take a tour of the region, including the beaches, famous lighthouses, and the most populous cities around the Great Lakes. Colorful photographs transport them to each new sight while maps aid in geographical understanding of the Great Lakes watershed. Sidebars augment the main social studies content with further detail and interesting facts.