Lyell's Travels in North America: and Canada and Nova Scotia with Geological Observations (Volume 1)

by Charles Lyell

Mr. Lyell's first journeys through North America. Particular note is taken of geology, but in general Mr. Lyell considers the American character, the institutions of the cities and towns, and the like. His travels span from New England to the Mid-West. vol. 1of 2

340 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Sir Charles Lyell, 1st Baronet, FRS was a Scottish geologist who popularised the revolutionary work of James Hutton. He is best known as the author of Principles of Geology, which presented uniformitarianism–the idea that the Earth was shaped by the same scientific processes still in operation today–to the broad general public. He was an influence on the young Charles Darwin.

His scientific contributions included an explanation of earthquakes, the theory of gradual "backed up-building" of volcanoes, and in stratigraphy the division of the Tertiary period into the Pliocene, Miocene, and Eocene. He also coined the currently-used names for geological eras, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic.