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North Shore: A Natural History of Minnesota's Superior Coast
Propelled by wings, fins, legs, and the wind, life has found a way to Minnesota’s North Shore for more than twelve thousand years. Some plants and animals have taken up residence in the region’s ancient mountains, others in its lakes and flowing rivers. Together, they weave a living fabric of sublime and fascinating beauty. These organisms come to life in North Shore, a comprehensive environmental history of one of Minnesota’s most beloved places.
The story of this region unfolds through the five interconnected areas of Minnesota’s North Shore watershed—the meandering rivers of the Headwaters, the deep and dense forest of the Highlands, the rocky Nearshore, the drama of Lake Superior, and its mysterious islands, including Isle Royale and Susie Island archipelagos. Each section begins with an overview of the forces that have shaped the area, then the focus turns to a wide range of inhabitants, such as chorus frogs and star-nosed moles, butterworts and coaster brook trout, jeweled diatoms and pitcher plants, black bears and blue-spotted salamanders. Each chapter links to the region’s broader history, from the sculpting of the land by mile-high glaciers to the role of scientific exploration, the advent of logging, the development of tourism, and the changing global climate.
North Shore reminds us that the natural history of this extraordinary region is still being created and that each of us—individually and collectively—are the authors of this ongoing narrative. Compelling and accessible, the book will provide readers with a science-based knowledge of the Minnesota North Shore watershed so that together we can write a new, hopeful chapter for its inhabitants, both human and wild.
The story of this region unfolds through the five interconnected areas of Minnesota’s North Shore watershed—the meandering rivers of the Headwaters, the deep and dense forest of the Highlands, the rocky Nearshore, the drama of Lake Superior, and its mysterious islands, including Isle Royale and Susie Island archipelagos. Each section begins with an overview of the forces that have shaped the area, then the focus turns to a wide range of inhabitants, such as chorus frogs and star-nosed moles, butterworts and coaster brook trout, jeweled diatoms and pitcher plants, black bears and blue-spotted salamanders. Each chapter links to the region’s broader history, from the sculpting of the land by mile-high glaciers to the role of scientific exploration, the advent of logging, the development of tourism, and the changing global climate.
North Shore reminds us that the natural history of this extraordinary region is still being created and that each of us—individually and collectively—are the authors of this ongoing narrative. Compelling and accessible, the book will provide readers with a science-based knowledge of the Minnesota North Shore watershed so that together we can write a new, hopeful chapter for its inhabitants, both human and wild.
632 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 27, 2016
As I am going to make a visit to the North Shore, I picked up this book from the library w/o opening it up, thinking it would have many pictures of this beautiful and under appreciated part of the US. Pretty pictures it does have, but it is a very interesting and sometimes worrisome collection of short natural history articles (averaging about 5-7 pages, some less) about some aspects of the natural history. For example, the article on how earthworms are destroying the arboreal forest. Earthworms are not natural to the arboreal forest, but are invaders, arriving as bait carried by anglers and dumped if no longer needed. The worms breed prolifically and eat quickly all the leaf litter on the forest floor. As a result the native arboreal trees cannot sprout, arthropods and other little critters have no food, and a number of species (small rodents, frogs, toads) no longer have habitat or food. Deciduous trees instead are creeping in. Another worrisome article is on why the populations of the two gull species have and continue to proliferate. The gulls are carnivores preying upon song birds, particularly during the migrations. The song birds fly over Lake Superior and the gulls harry the birds until the birds are disoriented and exhausted, falling into the waves, whereupon the gulls swallow them up. Pick and choose what articles you want to read; you will learn about the complexity of life and the unexpected and unintended consequences of small changes of habitat, climate, and human activity.
January 19, 2022
Encyclopedic source of information regarding the natural history of the waters and the north shore region ( bordering Minnesota) of Lake Superior.
This book is a gem; rich in detail, replete with photos and annotated with detailed resources, organized and written in a manner which enhances the reading experience and allows for enhanced appreciation of this unique place on our planet. 4.5/5
This book is a gem; rich in detail, replete with photos and annotated with detailed resources, organized and written in a manner which enhances the reading experience and allows for enhanced appreciation of this unique place on our planet. 4.5/5
February 12, 2023
This is the book for northern Minnesota's natural history. I couldn't recommend it enough, especially if you live there. There are amazing essays on so many different interesting topics.
July 15, 2015
Very comprehensive all- encompassing heavy tome.
October 6, 2015
Like an old school text book. But, I love the North Shore!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews