"Packed with in-depth information, illustrations, diagrams, suggested readings and a glossary, it's a valuable reference tool for those seeking to learn more about the river's natural history, plants and wildlife, geology and history."-Hudson Valley Magazine

"You want to learn about that famous river which flows from the Adirondack Mountains down past New York City? This beautifully illustrated book is as good as an encyclopedia about the river. Written by the sloop Clearwater's teachers, it will make the Hudson's biology and history live for you, just as Clearwater's ecology sails do for 10,000+ school kids every year."-Pete Seeger, folksinger

"Everyone who lives in the Hudson Valley should have this book. Indeed, anyone anywhere who seeks to preserve or improve a natural environment should own a copy! This skillful blend of natural and cultural history and environmental message is required reading for developers and conservationists alike."-C. Lavett Smith, Curator Emeritus, American Museum of Natural History, and author of Fish Watching: An Outdoor Guide to Freshwater Fishes

The Hudson River is one of the great rivers of the world. Not long ago, it was seriously threatened by pollution. Now it is coming back to life as a waterway where fish and birds can thrive again-a river valued once more by communities along its shores.

The environmental education program on board the sloop Clearwater, founded by folksinger Pete Seeger, has taught thousands of children and adults to love the river. With this book, river teachers bring their wealth of knowledge to a wider audience.

Covering the full sweep of the Hudson's natural history and human heritage, this book introduces readers to the river's diversity of plants and wildlife, to the geological forces that created it, to the people who explored and settled its banks, to its enduring place in American history and art, and to the battles waged over its environmental preservation. This revised edition also includes new information on the importance of the Hudson's watershed, the impacts of invasive species, and the latest data on the river's toxic PCB contamination, as well as new scholarship on the river's history.

In engaging illustrations, maps, and text--distilled from the best research on the Hudson's habitat and history--this unique book invites you to explore the river yourself.

Royalties from the sale of this book will support the continued restoration of the river's ecological well-being through the programs of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., a nonprofit education and advocacy organization based in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Stephen P. Stanne was education director for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., for nineteen years. Roger G. Panetta is a professor of history at Marymount College of Fordham University. Brian E. Forist is an environmental educator. For six years he was an education specialist with Clearwater.