Publisher's Synopsis
Though far more obscure than the famous American National Parks system, the National Wildlife Refuges have an importance and a majesty all their own. First established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge system has since grown to encompass more than 560 refuges, all dedicated to the preservation of America's wilderness and the protection of its native plants and animals. With development and human habitation spreading ever wider, these refuges provide over 150 million acres of sanctuary for thousands of species, many of them endangered. The National Wildlife Refuges are stunning, all the more so for the density and uniqueness of the life they protect. But unlike the National Parks, few people will ever visit a National Wildlife Refuge—in large part because many of them are remote, in landscapes that have remained untouched thanks to precisely how inhospitable they are to humanity. Let this book show you the beauty and wonder of these important wildlife havens, from the rugged mountains of Alaska to the muggy swamps of Florida, from the islands of the Oregon Coast to salt marshes and trails of east Texas.
