The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas

Embark on a captivating journey through the vast and awe-inspiring Great Lakes of North America in this award-winning masterpiece by acclaimed nature author Jerry Dennis.

The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas is the definitive book about the history, nature, and science of these remarkable lakes at the heart of North America. From the geological forces that formed them to the industrial atrocities that nearly destroyed them, Dennis explores the five Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario—in all their complexity, portraying their significance as the largest body of fresh water on Earth and their impact on the lives of millions.

Drawing from his lifetime of experiences on and near the lakes, including a six-week voyage as a crewmember on a tallmasted schooner, the Michigan native weaves together captivating stories collected from biologists, fishermen, sailors, and others who have intimately connected with these inland seas. Through storms and fog, on remote shores and city waterfronts, Dennis discovers the surprising and bountiful view of America offered by the Great Lakes and their connecting waters.

The Living Great Lakes is a meditation on nature, a cautionary tale about the future of water resources, and a celebration of a place that is both fragile and robust, diverse, rich in history and wildlife, and worthy of our attention. This "masterwork" is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand and appreciate the splendor and importance of the Great Lakes region.

Doug Stanton, author of In Harm's Way and 12 Strong

Winner of the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award

Best Book of 2003 by the Outdoor Writers Association of America