The Rockies: A Natural History

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Former park naturalist Richard Cannings has written a thorough natural
history of the Rockies. The study area that Cannings has defined
stretches from New Mexico in the south to the Yukon border in the north.


The book begins with chapters on geology and glaciology that explain
how the Rockies were formed and sculpted. This section is rounded out
with a chapter on climate. The remaining chapters take a different
approach, systematically describing the mountains from top to bottom.
Beginning with the area above the tree line, Cannings moves through the
high forest, forests of rain and snow, sun forests, and then “the
grass between the mountains.” The final two chapters cover water and
human activity.

Although beautifully illustrated and likely to do well in the gift-book
market, this volume is more than a coffee-table book. It is an
authoritative work with an editorial board made up of professional
naturalists in several disciplines. The text could be used as an
undergraduate text for a survey course on the natural history of the
Rockies.

The reading level is quite high, with many scientific terms and
mountain-specific terms. Most of the uncommon terms are explained the
first time they are used. However, given the nature of the book, many
readers will not read it cover-to-cover. Those dipping into a later
section will have to search for the earlier definitions. For example, in
the “high forests” chapter we find the phrase “spruce is often
seen in krummholz form.” By checking the index, we can find that the
word krummholz first occurs 38 pages earlier, where it is defined. A
glossary would have been a useful addition.

The book is heavily illustrated with photographs, including many full-
or two-page images. Reproduction quality, particularly in the large
images, tends to be a bit grainy. However, the photos themselves are
excellent in composition and sometimes have unusual content that will
elicit a “wow” or a smile.

Overall, this is a must-have book for all libraries with Canadian
geography collections.