State Geosymbols

From the tourmaline of Maine to the black coral of Hawaii, our state's official geological symbols or geosymbols are as uniquely diverse as the terrain and character of the 50 states themselves. In this reference book over 150 state geosymbols are presented with informative text that highlights their adoptive legislation, geologic and social history. Color photo montages add visual interest to the pages.

Amazing Alabama: A Potpourri of Fascinating Facts, Tall Tales and Storied Stories chronicles a brief history of the state, famous personages associated with Alabama, a discussion of state firsts, unique occurrences, antiquated laws and other fascinating topics.

“Immersive . . . bracingly ambitious . . . rewinds the story of life on Earth—from the mammoth steppe of the last Ice Age to the dawn of multicellular creatures over 500 million years ago.”—The Economist LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE • “One of those rare books that’s both deeply informative and daringly imaginative.”—Elizabeth Kolbert, author of Under a White Sky ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, Prospect (UK) The past is past, but it does leave clues, and Thomas Halliday has used cutting-edge science to decipher them more completely than ever before. In Otherlands, Halliday makes sixteen fossil sites burst to life on the page. This book is an exploration of the Earth as it used to exist, the changes that have occurred during its history, and the ways that life has found to adapt―or not. It takes us from the savannahs of Pliocene Kenya to watch a python chase a group of australopithecines into an acacia tree; to a cliff overlooking the salt pans of the empty basin of what will be the Mediterranean Sea just as water from the Miocene Atlantic Ocean spills in; into the tropical forests of Eocene Antarctica; and under the shallow pools of Ediacaran Australia, where we glimpse the first microbial life. Otherlands also offers us a vast perspective on the current state of the planet. The thought that something as vast as the Great Barrier Reef, for example, with all its vibrant diversity, might one day soon be gone sounds improbable. But the fossil record shows us that this sort of wholesale change is not only possible but has repeatedly happened throughout Earth history. Even as he operates on this broad canvas, Halliday brings us up close to the intricate relationships that defined these lost worlds. In novelistic prose that belies the breadth of his research, he illustrates how ecosystems are formed; how species die out and are replaced; and how species migrate, adapt, and collaborate. It is a breathtaking achievement: a surprisingly emotional narrative about the persistence of life, the fragility of seemingly permanent ecosystems, and the scope of deep time, all of which have something to tell us about our current crisis.

Strengthen your connection with the natural world as you learn to incorporate the power of crystals and gemstones into your magical practice. This comprehensive, full-color book is exquisitely designed to be both user-friendly and a gorgeous addition to your bookshelf. Inside, you'll find everything you need to effectively work with crystals, from the history, science, and magic of the mineral kingdom to an encyclopedic list of nearly 200 varieties of stones. Explore numerous ways to grow your knowledge and skills, including details on buying and preparing stones, magical associations by color, astrological influences, and how to spot fakes. Discover a new, powerful form of crystal grid and which stone is best for a specific goal. With more than 200 color photographs and convenient guides to correspondences, associated deities, and more, Crystal Magic will serve as a timeless, indispensable reference.

Official State Flowers and Trees: Their Unique Stories arranges the histories of the trees and flowers chosen by each of the states and territories of the United States into an entertaining, informative, and comprehensive guide to the honored species. Over the years, Americans have approached the choices of naming their states and territories official choices with passion. In this guide, Glynda Joy Nord explores the details of these intriguing stories and, with a plant-lovers touch, holds up each tree and flower, revealing the distinctive elements of each choice. Dedicating a chapter to each state and territory, Official State Flowers and Trees presents the flowers and trees through detailed line drawings, followed by the unique stories that tell how people came to choose them and what physical traits they found attractive. Additional background stories delve into the poetry, mythology, history, and biology tied to each species. You may see references to state flowers and trees on license plates, old postage stamps, state seals, and commemorative coins. You might notice the trees and flowers around you as you travel. If you then begin to wonder about the stories of those plants, then Official State Flowers and Trees: Their Unique Stories will help you satisfy your curiosity as you learn about their beauty, their histories, and the decisions that made them this countrys official symbols.

From the hardy moose of Maine's northeastern forests, westward to the spectacular humpback whale of the Hawaiian offshore waters, our state's faunal or animal symbols are special and represent America's rich geographic and biological diversity. Mammals, birds, fish, insects, shells, crustaceans, reptiles and amphibians have been officially adopted by the fifty state legislatures and four territorial governments to symbolically recognize their proud natural heritage. Beginning in the 1920s, many of the state animals were chosen by dedicated campaigning and the popular vote of school children while others were elected with backing from conservation organizations, animal interest groups and concerned legislators. The reasons are many: native origins, uniqueness, emulative qualities, tribute to individuals or groups, service to humankind, economic significance, rare and endangered and threat of extinction. In this reference book, over 350 state faunal symbols are presented with a brief informative text that highlights the adoptive legislation and their natural and social history. The color photo montages add visual appeal.

This must-have third revised and newly expanded edition of the only single reference source for information about state symbols features over 300 information updates plus three new chapters, updated license plate illustrations, and a newly formatted design for ease of use. Libraries that hold earlier editions of this work need this edition to keep their information on the states and territories current. With the addition of new chapters on state and territory universities, state and territory governors throughout U.S. history, state professional sports teams, and a complete revision of the chapter on state and territory fairs and festivals, the work now totals 17 chapters of essential information that is a treasure trove for students. This completed redesigned reference work features chapters on state and territory names and nicknames, mottoes, seals, flags, capitals, flowers, trees, birds, songs, legal holidays and observances, license plates, postage stamps, miscellaneous designations, fairs and festivals, universities, governors, professional sports teams, and a bibliography of state and territory histories. The work features full-color illustrations of every state and territory seal, flag, flower, tree, bird, commemorative postage stamp, and license plate (updated for this edition).

This volume brings together aspects of contemporary study of cultural geography and selected passages from prophetic texts of the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament. The aim is to identify how the image of the city helps to construct meaning inside the biblical material. In order to carry out this task relevant textual narratives are analysed and then read from the viewpoint of space, place and urban studies. This latter category includes the works of Lefebvre, Bachelard, Soja, Massey, Amin and Thrift and Pile, among others. A major finding is that urban imagination is a tool by which the texts manage the experience of political and social events in a time of radical change.

The fifty state flags are a colorful and fascinating look into the history of the individual states. This book includes a full-page, full-color image of each flag accompanied by a description of the flag’s and the state’s history and an explanation of the symbols included on the flag. As a bonus, similar coverage is given to the US flag and to the flags of the seven major inhabited US territories.