Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0679446761, Turtleback)

If you're under the impression that the Northeast's natural beauty has given way to high-rises, condominiums, and suburban sprawl, this volume will certainly change your mind. In actuality, the area comprising Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont--New England, in short--is home to an abundance of flora and fauna, whether it be marine life below sea level or alpine meadows above the tree line. In fact, New England is nothing less than a naturalist's paradise. Much of the area has been scoured by glacial ice, leaving behind cirques, arêtes, and a fjord, all of which are featured in a geology section. Fossils are highlighted too, alerting readers to the presence of dinosaur footprints in both Hadley, Massachusetts and Rocky Hill, Connecticut. In addition, an easy-to-use field guide assists readers in the identification of 1,000 of the area's current inhabitants, including giant puffball mushrooms, a healthy sampling of conifers and hardwoods, and five species of shark. Field trip ideas, from secluded Baxter State Park (no paved roads, no hook-ups, no gas or groceries) to popular Acadia National Park in Maine, complete the picture. All this is compiled in a single volume that's perfect for both armchair naturalists and those planning actual trips to the area.