A Natural History of Lake Ontario

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

Formed by glaciers more than twelve thousand years ago, Lake Ontario has captivated nature lovers for generations. Unique among the Great Lakes for having once been connected to the sea, fossils from ocean life have been found near the lake's shores. Damage done to Lake Ontario's ecosystem from centuries of human activity was center stage in the fight to pass the Clean Water Act and the restoration that followed. From incredibly diverse bird migrations in the spring and fall to the squalls and lake effect snow in winter, each season offers a rich ecological tapestry. Author Susan P. Gateley charts the natural history of Lake Ontario from its ice age origins to the climate and habitat challenges it faces today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467147927
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	07/05/2021
Series:	Natural History
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,092,355
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Susan P. Gateley is a native Upstate New Yorker and has authored a half dozen books on Lake Ontario, including two for Arcadia Publishing, since 1979. She has an MS in fisheries and has been a sailor and lake watcher for half a century. In 2015, she and her husband released a one-hour documentary on Lake Ontario through Ariel Associates, Quest for Hope. The video is based on her nonfiction book Saving the Beautiful Lake. Find it and links to two other short videos at her website, where her books that are currently in print are also listed. Here, too, is a link to her blog on Lake Ontario with notes and photos since 1995. www.susanpgateley.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction: A Lake Like No Other 11

1 The Age of Ice 15

2 The Europeans Arrive 25

3 Seasons on the Lake: Spring 35

4 Seasons on the Lake: Two Months of Summer Followed by Fall 51

5 Seasons on the Lake: Winter Whiteouts and Ice Castles 61

6 The Restless Beach 67

7 Stony Shores 83

8 Lakeshore Wetlands 95

9 The Mooneye and the King 103

10 Restoration, Redemption and Resilience 113

11 Aliens Among Us 129

12 Future History: What Are We Going to Do with All This Future? 141

Last Word: Places to Explore the Shore 149

Bibliography 155

About the Author 157