First Nature, Second Nature, City
-
source: Nathaniel Rich. 2012. Jungleland: The Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans Gives New Meaning to ‘Urban Growth’. The New York Times Magazine, March 21. link
-
Mannahatta — Manhattan
The Wildlife Conservation Society has compiled a decade’s worth of research on Manhattan into an interactive map that overlays the island of Mannahatta (pre-European settlement Manhattan) onto the current image of the island. The map captures the diversity and swampiness that used to exist on the island.
To see the interactive map, click here.
(Danielle Rivera)
-
I took this photo earlier this year while driving outside of L.A. I was so struck by the beauty of the wind turbines on the horizon, but not oblivious to the fact that these turbines were powering the sprawl of L.A.
-
A beautiful park, in the center of a metro area with over 1,000,000 people. Downtown Louisville is one of the many areas blessed with Olmsted parks but the irony shouldn’t escape us. We destroyed the original natural landscape to build our cities. In time, however, we then destroyed our cities to build our parks.
-
A growing metropolis that, despite its attempts, can’t overcome the fact it’s in the desert. If you look to the distance, you see the desert and a camel racetrack.
-
In Anchorage, I was struck by the intensity of combat fishing. It’s an explosive industry that lasts for roughly 5 months, during which time the tourism industry will generate ~80-90% of its annual revenue. In these communities, the river is their commodity. They have learned to protect it for the capital it brings. Of course, the locals see the river as lifeblood and source of food.
-
-
Fishing the Los Angeles River. The LA river of today is a vivid example of the Promethean Project applied to urban drainage. (http://www.fishwithjd.com/2009/04/01/los-angeles-river-steelheading/)
-
“For roughly a quarter of Oregonians, a great blessing is invisible but also phenomenally clear. It is the water that flows 30 miles from Bull Run, river and lake, to the Portland area.” (http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2009/10/opb_offers_a_look_at_bull_runs.html)
-
Little House on the Urban Prairie A blog by North Corktown resident and Earthworks Farm director Patrick Crouch. He writes about country life in the city. He’s also the author of this thoughtful article in Grist questioning urban farming’s role in gentrification.
(Cooper)
