The author provides an account of his experiences as a crew member on a tall-masted schooner during a six-week voyage through the Great Lakes, and discusses his other explorations of the lakes, looking at their history, geology, and environmental disaster and rescue.

"Mortimer chronicles three centuries of inquiry into Lake Michigan from the Native Americans, who called it Michigani (Great Waters), to the French explorers, whose first recorded observations date from the 1600s, to present-day scientists, who use satellite views of the Great Lakes from outer space." "Lake Michigan in Motion is a source of information for amateur naturalists, students, teachers, public officials, a wide variety of scientists and natural resource managers, residents of Lake Michigan's shores, and others who use the lake for their livelihood and recreation."--Jacket.

Water. One cannot think of Michigan without the image of water. Water as vast as the Great Lakes, as serene as the inland lakes, and as long and lazy or sleek and fast as the numerous byways that run between and among them. Waters of Michigan is a tribute to this treasured resource of Michigan. Combining the vision of internationally renowned photographer David Lubbers with the stewardship focus of environmentalist Dave Dempsey, this collection presents a truly unique view and understanding of the waters of Michigan. Foreword by Governor Willim G. Milliken.

A richly illustrated exploration of the Great Lake's history, culture, ecology, and natural beauty.

This guide details over 235 miles of wilderness footpath on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Mile-by-mile descriptions lead the casual hiker or ardent backpacker through a region thriving with spectacular wildflowers and diverse wildlife. Whether you have two hours or two weeks, an afternoon or a weekend, this guide will enhance your hiking experience.

Muskegon is a derivation of a Native American word meaning "river with marshes." Jeff Alexander examines the creation, uses of, devastation, and restoration of Michigan's historic and beautiful Muskegon River. Four of the five Great Lakes touch Michigan's shores; the state's shoreline spans more than 4,500 miles, not to mention more than 11,000 inland lakes and a multitude of rivers. The Muskegon River, the state's second longest river, runs 227 miles and has the most diverse features of any of Michigan’s many rivers. The Muskegon rises from the center of the state, widens, and moves westward, passing through the Pere Marquette and AuSable State Forests. The river ultimately flows toward Lake Michigan, where it opens into Muskegon Lake, a 12 square-mile, broad harbor located between the Muskegon River and Lake Michigan. Formed several thousand years ago, when the glaciers that created the Great Lakes receded, and later inhabited by Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians, the Muskegon River was used by French fur trappers in the 1600s. Rich in white pine, the area was developed during the turn-of-the-century lumber boom, and at one time Muskegon Lake boasted more than 47 sawmills. The Muskegon was ravaged following settlement by Europeans, when rivers and streams were used to transport logs to the newly developing cities. Dams on rivers and larger streams provided power for sawmills and grain milling, and later provided energy for generating electricity as technology advanced. There is now an ambitious effort to restore and protect this mighty river's natural features in the face of encroaching urbanization and land development that threatens to turn this majestic waterway into a mirror image of the Grand River, Michigan's longest river and one of its most polluted.

Visions of Michigan is a visual journey celebrating the natural beauty of Michigan's landscapes and lakeshores. This 148-page hardcover photographic book features nearly 140 captivating photographs by Michigan photographer Richard Thompson. From sweeping shorelines, windswept dunes, and roaring waterfalls, to lonely lighthouses, tranquil lakes, and timid wildlife, Visions of Michigan explores the breadth of Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas and further abroad the Great Lakes.