Peter Freuchen's Book of the Seven Seas

Famed explorer Peter Freuchen drew on his vast knowledge of nautical fact and legend, as well as his fantastic personal experiences, to write his Book of the Seven Seas. The book essentially puts the world's oceans between two covers, beginning with how the seas were formed and going on to explain the actions of the winds and tides, the variety of marine life, and man's ocean-going history. Freuchen paints an exciting and colorful picture of humankind's maritime adventures -- from the first prehistoric voyages in open rafts to daring scientific explorations to the ocean floor. He tells of sailors who fought for glory, traders who risked their lives for wealth, and galley slaves who sought only freedom. Revealed here as well are the great mysteries of the sea -- monstrous waves over 100 feet high, rivers and currents flowing between underwater mountains, and the riches of oil and minerals hidden in the ocean's depths. The result of many years of exploration and research, this book is a wonderfully entertaining resource. Book jacket.