Category Archives: Great Lakes

Backyard birds: Comparing central New Mexico with northwest Lower Michigan

Moving across the country offers a unique opportunity to witness a diverse range of songbirds in one’s backyard. The amount of variation between the two ecosystems is substantial. While central New Mexico near Albuquerque is located at the northern edge … Continue reading

Posted in Animal rights, Animals, art, climate, deserts, diversity, ecosystems, education, entertainment, environment, fun, geography, Great Lakes, lakes, land use, mountains, natural history, nature, pictures, rivers/watersheds, Science, songs, States, topography, tourism, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Using abnormally high-water events on the Great Lakes to help relieve the Western mega-drought

Its time to think about cross-regional cooperation to address our problems related to surface water and climate change. In recent years, water levels in the Great Lakes have been at or near all-time record highs. This has created numerous and … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, cities, civics, civility, climate, climate change, ecosystems, environment, food systems, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, health, history, humanity, infrastructure, land use, natural history, nature, North America, planning, politics, rail, Railroads, rivers/watersheds, Science, States, topography, Trade, trucking, urban planning, weather | Leave a comment

Places that should be National Parks

The photos speak for themselves, but the list below are some of the beautiful and inspiring places in the United States (and one in Canada) that this author believes should be National Parks. Some are already part of the National … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, culture, deserts, entertainment, environment, fun, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, hiking, historic preservation, history, land use, landscape architecture, Native Americans, natural history, nature, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, recreation, rivers/watersheds, scenic byways, States, topography, toponymy, tourism, trails, Travel, volcanoes, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

North America’s deepest lakes and reservoirs

The following list identifies the deepest natural and human-made lakes on the North American continent. Any additions, corrections, or suggestions for this list are most welcome. Great Slave Lake, NWT = 2,010 feet 2. Crater Lake, OR = 1,949 feet … Continue reading

Posted in Arctic, Canada, Caribbean, climate change, ecosystems, environment, food systems, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, history, land use, Latin America, Maps, Mexico, Native Americans, nature, North America, pollution, recreation, shipping, Statistics, sustainability, topography, tourism, Trade, transportation, Travel, underwater preserves, water trails | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How do you solve a logistics problem like Chicago?

If you have traveled through metropolitan Chicago by car, truck, train, or plan, you know how difficult it is to negotiate. Being situated near the base of Lake Michigan makes it a natural choke point for travel and distribution. As … Continue reading

Posted in air travel, airport planning, airports, aviation, business, Cars, cities, commerce, distribution, ecommerce, economic development, economics, geography, Great Lakes, highways, industry, infrastructure, land use, logistics, Maps, Passenger rail, pictures, planning, rail, Railroads, shipping, spatial design, Statistics, topography, Trade, traffic, transportation, Travel, trucking, urban planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Favorite scenic byways and roadways traveled – UPDATED

Below, listed in alphabetical order, are my favorite scenic byways and highways that I’ve traveled from across the United States. Those shown in bold would be at the top of my list. No freeways, toll roads, or interstate highways allowed … Continue reading

Posted in archaeology, architecture, art, Biking, Cars, culture, deserts, ecosystems, entertainment, environment, Food, fun, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, highways, hiking, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, nature, peace, pictures, placemaking, planning, rivers/watersheds, scenic byways, spatial design, sustainability, topography, tourism, trails, transportation, Travel, walking, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Longest rivers that outlet into the Great Lakes

The following list identifies the 43 (two ties) longest rivers that outlet into the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada. The longest river for each of the Great Lakes and for Lake St. Clair is identified in bold. … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, civics, Climate Change, ecosystems, environment, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, infrastructure, land use, Maps, nature, North America, pictures, planning, pollution, recreation, rivers/watersheds, shipping, States, Statistics, topography, tourism, Trade, transportation, Travel, water trails | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Stunning satellite views of major cities on river deltas

Posted in aerospace, Africa, Asia, Astronomy, Canada, China, cities, climate change, environment, Europe, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, land use, Maps, nature, North America, Outer Space, pictures, planning, rivers/watersheds, Russia, shipping, spatial design, sprawl, sustainability, topography, tourism, transportation, Travel, urban planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mapping America’s historic iron mining districts and ranges

Adirondack Highlands Iron District – New York – see map below (red dots indicate locations of iron mines) Birmingham Iron District – Alabama – see map below (iron ore areas shown in brown and burnt orange) Cuyuna Iron Range – … Continue reading

Posted in archaeology, environment, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, historic preservation, history, industry, land use, Maps, Mining, planning, pollution, topography, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The death and rebirth of our once burning rivers

If you were of child of the 1960s like me, you probably remember the news accounts about the Cuyahoga River catching fire in Cleveland. Amazingly, that was one of more than a dozen fires that erupted on the Cuyahoga due … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, art, Biking, China, cities, downtown, economic development, environment, geography, Great Lakes, health, historic preservation, history, India, infrastructure, land use, Maps, nature, placemaking, planning, pollution, revitalization, rivers/watersheds, Russia, shipping, sustainability, third places, topography, tourism, trails, transportation, Travel, urban planning, walking, water trails, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment