Wonders of the Sea Vol. 3: Hidden Treasures of California's Far North Coast
Shargel's third book provides a visual voyage beneath the ocean, discovering marine life from the Oregon border to Pt. Arena. It reveals an array of marine life seen only by hearty divers who visit these rugged shores, looking at the ecological hot spots dotting NorCal's coastline. Here sea life thrives and divers, surfers, boaters, birders, and tidepoolers glimpse nature at its best. Places include St. George Reef, Klamath River mouth, Reading Rock, Patrick's Pt., Humboldt Bay, rugged Cape Mendocino, Punta Gorda, Ten Mile Beach, Van Damme, and Pt. Arena.
This book provides a window onto the diverse ocean life of far NorCal. Just offshore from the redwood forests of this northernmost quarter of California's coast lies a rainbow of color, diverse forms with varieties of life so different from what's on land, it seems another world. Vividly reproduced color images present this underwater world, a feast for the eyes.
Informative, clear text complements the photos, taking readers on a tour of far NorCal's shoreline. Shargel recalls the region's past too, reflecting on marine life there 100 years ago and more, through archival images and historic accounts. A disturbing trend of diminished marine life emerges. Describes and illustrates six marine habitats found in NorCal, each with unique animals and plants. Many locations highlighted now have increased protection under California's Marine Life Protection Act. Ecology, marine biology, and natural history interwoven with human history all emerge from these pages. The pictures come to life in stories told by divers, educators, students, and businesspeople, all local residents. Their voices describe the intimate relationship between Northern Californians and their ocean. This book's value transcends its beautiful images and compelling tales.
by Mark Shargel
Hardcover, 105 pages