A Field Guide to Interstate Highway Landscapes For a good number of years I have been writing a book, Interstate Landscapes – East: Physiography, Geology, and Ecology. I would like to make it available to anyone who can use it, as they drive along the eastern Interstate highways—for free.
The book is divided into three parts: Part One—"Interstates of Eastern United States," Part Two—"Physiographic Provinces and Sections," and Part Three—"Natural History Topics." In Part One the road log of each Interstate is divided into physiographic segments (based upon Fenneman’s classic physiographic Provinces and Sections), regions with fairly uniform geology and associated physiography. Each of these segments of highway has a brief introduction in the road log as it is entered. Parts Two and Three contain information intended to explain many of the comments in Part One. These two parts can also, of course, be used simply as introductions to the topics contained within them. If one wants more information (as I would hope) on the physiographic and geologic differences and history among the various areas of the country she is passing through, then she can refer to Part Two. If one wants more information on the rocks, physiography, wetlands, forests, wildflowers, etc. she sees along the way, then she can refer to Part Three. That is one reason why the tables of contents of those two parts are as detailed as they are, rather than providing an index. The table of contents of Part One—listing the Interstates and states passed through—has a section, "Further Information on Specific Subjects," to facilitate this exploration. You can also use the "search" or "find" features of the specific software/hardware combination that you are using. I have recently uploaded the pdf version of the second edition of the book to the Internet at Dropbox (dropbox.com), from which it can be easily downloaded by going to my website, www.normankowal.com. The site contains more details about the book and about me as well. If you have any interest in this project, check it out. If it looks good, spread the word. If you want more info, I am at [email protected]. Cheers,Norm Kowal
