Overview
Located off Australia's eastern coast, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the natural world. The diversity of life is simply incredible. It is also the ideal environment for coral, making it a diver's paradise. Indeed, some 200 million tourists visit the reef each year. Looking beyond the sheer beauty of this place, we learn, too, that it is a region rich in history, the setting for fateful shipwrecks and exotic Aboriginal myths. Australian writer Rosaleen Love explores the reef from all these angles, allowing us to see this stunning geography anew.Part travelogue, part eco-history, Reefscape represents multiple views of the reef - through the eyes of mariners, pearl divers, naturalists, filmmakers, pirates, industrialists, and tourists alike- painting a fascinating portrait of a unique locale.
Told in a reflectively poetic voice, Love writes evocatively of the ecological, and geological significance of the reef. Woven throughout is the intriguing history of the area. This twofold approach provides a rich perspective on the reef an ecosystem as well as a natural resource for its inhabitants. By recounting both tales, Reefscape provides a window on the past and foreshadows the future of this extraordinary environment.
Reefscape will illuminate the meaning of the human encounter with nature. It will inspire delight in the imagination and spirit of all who yearn for the transcendence of turquoise waters.
Synopsis
"Rosaleen Love's portrait of Australia's Great Barrier Reef guides us through the tranquil but mysterious terrain of a lush underwater world." "Looking beyond the sensual magnificence, Love also tells a scientist's story, examining the ecological, biological, and geological significance of the unique habitat that is the Great Barrier Reef. We accompany her into the field to study the relics of Earth's basic evolutionary processes to understand more about our natural world. We learn, too, about today's most pressing threats to the reef. Coral bleaching, a phenomenon whose root causes may be linked to global warming and the cyclical infestations of crown-of-thorn starfish, who slowly but voraciously consume coral gardens, destroying the habitat that is home to sea and bird life, are chief among them." "Love weaves the economic and social history of the reef into her narrative. This approach provides a rich perspective on the region both as an ecosystem as well as a resource - telling a tale of commodities and industries, from fishing to mining. By recounting both stories, Reefscape provides a window on the reef's past while foreshadowing its future."--BOOK JACKET.
Choice
...lucidly written, fascinating, well-researched yet personal account of the natural history of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. ... Love brings the reef to life... Highly recommended.
Editorials
Choice
...lucidly written, fascinating, well-researched yet personal account of the natural history of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. ... Love brings the reef to life... Highly recommended.Science Books & Films
"...a beautifully written book. ... What is most impressive is its philosophical and spiritual qualities and poetic writing about the wonders of nature."Suite101.com
"[This book] exhibits an in-depth understanding of the reef's inexplicable lure, ecological significance and spirituality. The author's compelling connection to the reef flows through her writing, as does her inquisitive manner."Islands
"If you're planning a pilgrimage to this World Heritage Site ... you'll profit from the voluminous research and the overview on the history and the inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef."— September/October 2001