This atlas was developed jointly by the Canadian and American governments, and is intended to provide an ecosystem approach to the understanding of the Great Lakes Basin. Chapter one provides an introduction to both the natural and cultural aspects of the Great Lakes. Chapter two, "Natural Processes in the Great Lakes," describes such factors as geology, climate, the hydrological cycle, surface runoff, groundwater, wetlands, lake levels, lake processes (such as stratification and turnover), and living resources. Chapter three, "People and the Great Lakes," traces the earliest settlers that first began to fish, farm, and deforest the basin, and whose descendants spawned the massive urban and industrial growth of today. Chapter four explores the concerns many have about the Great Lakes today, including the effects of eutrophication, pathogens, toxics, biomagnification, and other polluting factors. Chapter five examines some of the ways that governments have sought to respond to many of the difficulties facing the lakes, and chapter six discusses some of the future scenarios of the Great Lakes. Included is a glossary, a metric conversion chart, references and suggestions for further reading, maps, figures, and factsheets. (TW)