Olympic reading

[randy_byers]

Fanboy that I am, my latest obsession -- the Olympic peninsula -- has driven me to read books. First up was The Olympic Rain Forest: An Ecological Web by Ruth Kirk with Jerry Franklin (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1992). This is a terrific large format book with many beautiful color photos and an extremely informative

Comments

[del_c]

the rivers tie the forests to the ocean

I was watching a programme about Australia's Great Barrier Reef a few months ago, and the presenter made the point that the reef, the water behind it, and the rivers and forests on the Australian mainland, are all part of one big system. Cut down the trees on the land, and the dirt washed off into the lagoon kills the reef.

[randy_byers]

Indeed. I think it was Cairns (in Queensland) where I saw a sign saying "where the rain forest meets the reef". At Mareeba on the plateau above Cairns there was a sign saying "where the rain forest meets the outback".

One of the things The Olympic Rain Forest briefly touches on is how trees that are carried to the ocean by the rivers play a part in the local ecosystem of the ocean as well, for example by providing habitat for certain kinds of organisms, which then attract the fish that feed on them.

One of the things I'd like to know more about is the reefs off the coast of Washington.

[holyoutlaw]

I picked up a book at Pike Place Market that I'd be happy to lend to you -- you'll probably get to it before I do.

"The Last Wilderness" by Murray Morgan, Viking Press, 1955. Here's a helpful link from the Seattle Public Library:

http://seattle.bibliocommons.com/item/show/157395030_the_last_wilderness

We also have a photo/coffee table book called "Beneath Cold Seas" (in re your comment above)

[randy_byers]

Unless I'm missing something, that library page doesn't have any information about the book -- at least not what it's about.

I gave Beneath Cold Seas to my nephew for Xmas. I only looked at the photos, but they're great. Another University of Washington Press book. Maybe I should just work my way through their catalogue.

[holyoutlaw]

I thought I was being clever. Yes, that link has no real information. Anyway, it looks like an amusing book.

[randy_byers]

Ah, I see, a "helpful" link.