學術活動

  The Great Lakes are one of the great natural wonders of the world, according to geographer and educator Dr. Norman Moline.   Yet, surprisingly often, lists of such marvels fail to include them. The lakes contain over 20 per cent of the non-glacial fresh water on our planet.  They and their connecting channels and portages have been pivotal in the settlement history and cultural geography of much of the Midwest, Northeast, and adjacent regions of Canada.  Native Americans used the Great Lakes extensively. French colonizers explored the connections afforded by the lakes, which proved to be a vital nexus within the “crescent” of settlement that stretched from eastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.  Throughout subsequent centuries and geopolitical configurations, the Great Lakes have played a variety of indispensable roles in the transportation, commerce, ecology, and cultural identity of Canada and the United States.  The cooperation of these countries in trying to manage these lakes sometimes is cited as one of the best examples of international cooperation related to a water resource.
  An enthusiastic proponent of the greatness of the Great Lakes, Dr. Moline will identify the many links within the Great Lakes watershed and with adjoining watersheds. He will discuss their multifaceted historical significance and some environmental and political issues related to the management and future of these lakes.

Department of Geography, Augustana College (Univ.), USA