Jun/100
The Great Lakes And Global Warming Will Result In Drastic Environmental Changes
A century worth of human innovation including the industrial revolution can wreck havoc to any environment that it comes into contact with. With leaps in scientific measurement we can now look at the world in completely new ways and a side effect of that is being able to look into the future with some certainty. Climate change is a hot topic along with its effects. The Great Lakes and global warming is a situation that will significantly change an entire region.
This area is already dealing with the deleterious affects of invasive species, and something like climate change will only act like fuel to a fire. Twenty percent of the world's fresh water comes from the Great Lakes, it is a major source of this finite resource and any depletion will have massive and widespread repercussions.
Spending time talking about how important the Great Lakes are cannot be cast aside. Drinking water, as important and essential it is, is not the only thing the lakes provide. The region gives a huge amount of hydroelectric power to surrounding areas and is a main waterway for shipping routes. In terms of nature, it is a hub for a number of plant and animal species.
All is not right in the great lakes region, however, as it has been subject to urban development over the past hundred years. This construction and urbanization has led to air and water pollution as well as habitat destruction due to the building up of cities along its shores. All of these issues make something as simple as increased temperatures potentially devastating.
Warming temperatures will increase the melting away of the ice cover that is already quite thin upon the lakes. This melting will result in an increased evaporation of the lakes themselves, bringing the water level down.
As recently as last year, the lake level of Lake Superior was at its lowest in seventy seven years and predictions for the future are estimating another three foot decrease. The effects of low water levels include restrictions to shipping and a concentration of pollutants which will damage the water quality greatly, as well as the industry for travel, leisure, and cruises.
Acting now to restore the Great Lakes region is imperative and already building steam in terms of enacting policy. The reality, however, is that the project will cost billions of dollars and last dozens of years. Antique sewage systems will need to be completely replaced and already polluted sediment will have to be cleaned. Wetland areas will need to be bulked up and restored so as to act as a natural barrier against invasive species.
Climate change is not just increased temperature and decreased water levels, it can wreck havoc on weather systems. It is proposed that within the region there will be more storms, as well as more drought seasons. This will increase pollution run off, it will act as a viral incubator and the lakes could be littered with dead zones. Dead zones are the result of algae overgrowth that creates oxygen free zones.
What does the future hold? It cannot be known with absolute certainty, but models have provided some statistics. Storms may increase by 25%, but with the temperature increases (ranging between two and four degrees), the water levels can drop up to eight feet!
The future may seem to hold a number of destructive elements, but they can be tempered by being proactive in the present and working to make the Great Lakes as great as they once were.
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Jan/100
Toronto: The City Of Modernity
Many people find Toronto, Ontario's capital, to be a really ideal city. Though it has the highest population of any city in Canada, you would never know it. It is quietly influential and is a leading world city. It is the commerce capital of Canada, despite its sleepy facade. The city leads most others in their scholastic advancement and their technological production. These are the industries in which Toronto leads commerce.
The great thing about Toronto is its advanced way of thinking. The whole city is known for being especially liberal. It helps, too, that the city is so diverse. The crime rates are ridiculously low and the city is very clean and ecologically aware. It has made more than one 'Top Ten' list for the world's best cities.
Moving there would be a dream for some, but not if you are a person who dislikes the winter and longs for the extremely urban. The city still has some country roots and the population is not tightly packed. There are plenty of recreational trails, beaches, and parks. Keep in mind that the city is on the banks of two rivers, so there is a healthy interest in the environment.
The cool thing about Toronto is that it is not a one-note city. When you think of a city like Bruges, you think how it is really a medieval city. That is its focus. Toronto does not have a focus. Its architecture is from all different times, ranging from the space-age CN Tower to the classic Art Gallery of Ontario, to the Victorian Distillery District.
As with all cities, it is split up into districts. This is helpful for travelers who want to specify their tourism or who visit the city often and want to visit a new district every time. There are the different industrial areas, the port areas by the water, the fashion districts, sports districts, and residential areas.
The parks and beaches are lovely, too. Since there are so many beaches, you will not find yourself crowded out in the summer. There are plenty of water sports to play and a lot of sun to be had. As for parks, the best kept city secret is Cloud Gardens, which is a semi-enclosed park with an observatory. Many people do not even know it exists.
The city also has great cultural experiences. Their acting centers are renowned, with a very strong Shakespeare group. The Toronto Ballet houses some of the world's finest dancers, making it a distant fourth in ballet capitals. It also hosts many film festivals and has a healthy share of actors and directors.
The one thing Toronto is absolutely known for is it sports. Most people think of merely hockey, which IS its prime sport. However, Toronto also has baseball, soccer, basketball, and football teams, all very good. The Maple Leafs--the hockey team--provide a huge source of revenue for the city and make Toronto and Canada famous in sports. They are always the team to beat.
There is a lot that goes on in the City of Toronto, and a Toronto association has a lot to offer. There are also many contractors Toronto to assist you with any projects that you have.