Comprising approximately 730 square miles and over half a million residents, the Lehigh Valley is the third largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania, encompassing the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. Much is known about the industrial history of the valley (home to Bethlehem Steel, Mack Trucks, and Crayola crayons). But few have discovered the valley's natural history: the "endless" Blue Mountain, the spectacular raptor migrations, the wetlands and watercourses. The Lehigh Valley explores the land and the natural forces and human history that have altered it. From boulder fields to water gaps, from sinkholes to limestone caves, the valley has long had a powerful influence on the lives of its residents--and the people have had a similarly powerful effect on the valley; the text features brief profiles of some of the people who have shaped the environmental history of the area. The authors also include directions to historical and natural sites, and the book's illustrations aid visitors and naturalists in identifying the region's abundance of flora and fauna. The Lehigh Valley is a unique combination of narrative natural history, identification handbook, and travel and hiking guide. Mountain laurel, red-tailed hawks, dusky salamanders: The Lehigh Valley not only shows us what resides in this beautiful and bountiful valley, but also explains why. This illustrated guide surveys the valley's ecology, geology, history, and agriculture--and is complemented by maps and drawings of the area's plant and animal life. The Lehigh Valley will appeal to area residents, amateur naturalists, and Pennsylvania visitors with an interest in natural history.

An engaging, personalized look at the interplay between people and nature in the northeastern and midwestern United States, from prehistory to the present. The Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States provide a fascinating case study for the emergent field of environmental history. These regions, with their varied resources, were central to the early economic success of the nation. Consequently, the early industries in these regions altered and depleted the landscape as people changed their locations and occupations. Fishing and whaling on the northeastern coast have given way to tourism and sailing. The great stands of timber around the Great Lakes have been replaced by farms and dairies. The textile mills, powered by the falls of the Piedmont and once yielding wealth, now stand empty. That humans shape their environment and, in turn, must respond to the consequences is broadly obvious. Using the voices of historical figures, both notable and obscure, this book brings to life the interaction between humans and their environments and illustrates the consequences of those interactions. Part of ABC-CLIO's unique Nature and Human Societies series, this book enables readers to better understand humanity's effect on the environment.

This unique survey of the environmental history of the southern United States explores the ecological, social, and economic interaction between humans and the environment in the South over the last 20,000 years. The melting of the Ice Age glaciers heralded the arrival of the Archaic peoples in the South and the lives of the South's peoples have long been shaped and challenged by the environment. Conversely, the human impact on the South's landscape has been dramatic, from the mound building of Native Americans to the construction of cities and the birth of modern industry. Part of ABC-CLIO's Nature and Human Societies series, Southern United States: An Environmental History explores the historical and ecological dimensions of human interaction with the environment throughout Southern history. Examining diverse issues from the impact of the end of the Ice Age to the consequences of the U.S. space program for Florida's environment, this invaluable guide synthesizes literature from a wide range of authoritative sources to provide a fascinating guide to the South's environment.

An anthology of period documents that illustrate important facets of Americans' changing relationship with nature.