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The Central Appalachians: Mountains of the Chesapeake
These photograph-laden, episodic essays outline the ecological stories and preservation needs of the Central Appalachians.
Beautiful and wild, the Central Appalachians of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia are a hotspot for biodiversity. They also make up a large part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are responsible for a majority of its freshwater flow to the Chesapeake Bay.
Award-winning author and nature photographer Mark Hendricks spent years documenting life on the mountain trails and underneath Appalachian waters and built camera traps to capture images of rarely seen species. Not only are these images beautiful and fascinating, but they bring more understanding of the environmental importance of the area. Between seasonal portfolios are various essays, featuring
• stories of an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker,
• a biologist dedicated to saving fungus-plagued bats in winter caves,
• an ecologist who protects one of the most rare ecosystems in the region,
• a close encounter with a bobcat, and
• various encounters with other rare and exciting species such as black bear, eastern hellbender and other rare salamanders, and sparring elk.
Well-known locations such as Shenandoah National Park are featured prominently, as are little-known areas such as the Finzel Swamp and the famous reintroduced elk herd of north-central Pennsylvania. It’s a wild and wonderful journey for all nature lovers.
Beautiful and wild, the Central Appalachians of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia are a hotspot for biodiversity. They also make up a large part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are responsible for a majority of its freshwater flow to the Chesapeake Bay.
Award-winning author and nature photographer Mark Hendricks spent years documenting life on the mountain trails and underneath Appalachian waters and built camera traps to capture images of rarely seen species. Not only are these images beautiful and fascinating, but they bring more understanding of the environmental importance of the area. Between seasonal portfolios are various essays, featuring
• stories of an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker,
• a biologist dedicated to saving fungus-plagued bats in winter caves,
• an ecologist who protects one of the most rare ecosystems in the region,
• a close encounter with a bobcat, and
• various encounters with other rare and exciting species such as black bear, eastern hellbender and other rare salamanders, and sparring elk.
Well-known locations such as Shenandoah National Park are featured prominently, as are little-known areas such as the Finzel Swamp and the famous reintroduced elk herd of north-central Pennsylvania. It’s a wild and wonderful journey for all nature lovers.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published February 28, 2024
11 people want to read
About the author
Mark Hendricks
2 books5 followersMark Hendricks is an award winning photographer, writer, and author working on environmental issues. A former marine mammal biologist and animal rescuer, he turned to using his camera as a storytelling tool for conservation purposes. His first book, Natural Wonders of Assateague Island (Schiffer Publishing), was a 2018 Foreword Reviews award winner. His images and articles have been featured in National Geographic, The Guardian, The Washington Post,Living Bird , Audubon, and many others. Mark is a faculty member at Towson University where he serves as a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, an adjunct in the Department of Biological Sciences, and is co-director of the Animal Behavior Program. He is a fellow in the International League of Conservation Writers and member of the ethics committee for the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 1, 2024
Stunning collection of contemporary photography capturing all the natural beauty of the region. Mark Hendricks has an eye for finding and capturing the best moments in this lush environment. Mark captures the large and the small, the sweeping Shenandoah vista and the tiny, shy salamander (or the elusive bobcat). The photographs are not just visually stunning; they invite you to pause and appreciate the smaller, often overlooked aspects of the natural world around us and the beauty that Appalachia has in spades.
As a collection of remarkable photography - this book has a place on anyone's coffee table and it will surely generate interest among your family and guests alike. With the addition of Mark Hendrick's narrative, care, and reverence for his subject - this book will earn a place on your bedside table as you take in the storytelling, history, and ecology that makes you feel like you are there with him, standing at the headwaters of the Rappahannock River in Virginia.
As a collection of remarkable photography - this book has a place on anyone's coffee table and it will surely generate interest among your family and guests alike. With the addition of Mark Hendrick's narrative, care, and reverence for his subject - this book will earn a place on your bedside table as you take in the storytelling, history, and ecology that makes you feel like you are there with him, standing at the headwaters of the Rappahannock River in Virginia.
Displaying 1 of 1 review