The death and life of the Great Lakes

The book chronicles the ecological catastrophe facing the Great Lakes, which hold 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water.

Egan explores issues such as invasive species introduced through the St. Lawrence Seaway, water diversion, changing water levels, and the impacts of climate change.

He details the history of the Great Lakes, from the arrival of early European explorers to the current threats, including the devastating effects of sea lampreys, zebra and quagga mussels, and Asian carp.

The narrative is enriched with stories of scientific discoveries and policy failures, and concludes with proposals for restoring and preserving the Great Lakes for future generations.