Lawson Wood - Böcker

From time immemorial the natural harbour of Scapa Flow in the Orkneys has been a haven for ships. Its wide expanse of open water protected by islands on most sides has two unique features: it is sheltered from the worst of most storms, and is large enough to house a Battle Fleet. During both world wars Scapa housed the British Home Fleet. It is this capacity to contain a fleet in relative safety and security that has led to the area having the largest profusion of naval wrecks in the western world.At the end of the First World War, Germany surrendered her Imperial Navy and it was laid up in Scapa Flow. After almost a year of internment, the German commanders decided to scuttle the fleet rather than have it divided up among the victors. Over fifty vessels, ranging from destroyers to battleships, were deliberately sunk by their German crews. Many have since been salvaged, mostly in the 1920s and 1930s, but even today many remain and the harbour has become a haven for divers from all over the world.However, the story of Scapa is not only that of the scuttling of the German Imperial Navy but also that of one of the most daring submarine attacks of all time. In October 1939, Germany’s top submarine ace, Gunter Prien, took the U-47 into the anchorage and sank the Royal Oak, the pride of the British Navy. This was the second such attack on Scapa. The first, during the First World War, resulted in the sinking of blockships in many of the inlets to the harbour. Prien’s attack led to the building of the Churchill Barriers and, indirectly, to the construction of the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, one of Orkney’s greatest works of art.The Bull and the Barriers is the story in words and pictures of the wrecks dotted in and around Scapa Flow, and is a tribute to those whose bodies remain forever trapped underwater in the Royal Oak and other ships.

August 1948 was an exceptional month. There were 90mph gales in Belgium, snowfalls in Switzerland and in the Scottish Borders one of the heaviest rainfalls ever in one day, while the Tweed received more than a third of its annual rainfall in only six days. The flood plain of the Tweed could just about cope with the deluge, but smaller rivers such as the Tyne at Haddington, the Biel, the Blackadder, Whiteadder Water, Rivers Till and Eye were disasters waiting to happen. The main problem was not the twenty-four-hour deluge but the rain of the previous two weeks that had already seen the rivers rise to bursting point. ‘The Glorious Twelfth’ was a day of disaster and the next few days were to affect the Borders for months to come. The sheer volume of water flowing down the rivers resulted in them bursting their banks, causing widespread flooding over a large area. The East Coast Main Line was breached in many places and was closed for eleven weeks as a result of the damage. Trees and other debris swept down with the floodwater had blocked culverts and the resultant lakes of water put so much pressure on the embankments that they were simply swept away, leaving railway lines dangling in mid-air. Roads were damaged and houses, cars and livestock swept away with the floodwater. There were many lucky escapes: a train passing over a bridge at Greenlaw just minutes before the bridge was swept away; people were rescued from their houses literally seconds before they collapsed from underneath them. Many deeds of bravery performed in that wet and windy August are also recorded in Lawson Wood’s 'The Great Borders Flood of 1948'. Illustrated with over 100 images of the greatest natural disaster to hit the Borders, this book is a unique record of that fateful month of August 1948.

A new and updated edition of this popular title covering the fishes, invertebrates and other marine life of the Mediterranean Sea.Almost entirely enclosed by land, the Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by many popular wildlife destinations, including Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Gibraltar, Greece and Turkey. From sharks and turtles to anemones and sponges, Marine Life of the Mediterranean reveals the fascinating wealth of sea life found in this diverse region.Featuring more than 400 species of fish, corals and other vertebrates and invertebrates, each species account includes key information on identification, habitats, diet and behaviour. Recommendations on where to go scuba diving, as well as important information on dangerous marine life, conservation zones and marine protected areas are also included.This compact and easy-to-follow guidebook – illustrated with colour photographs taken in a number of unique and exotic locations – is an essential companion for divers, snorkellers and underwater photographers visiting the area.

A practical and fascinating guidebook covering the fishes, invertebrates and other marine life of the North Sea and English Channel.Visitors to the North Sea are astonished at the abundance of marine life that exists in this relatively small sea that is bounded by Britain to the west and the shores of northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and the far south-west of Sweden in the east. Featuring more than 500 species of fish, crustaceans and other vertebrates and invertebrates commonly found in the region, this compact and easy-to-follow guidebook includes key information on identification, habitats, diet and behaviour. Information on marine habitats, conservation zones and marine protected areas is also included.With specially commissioned colour photographs taken in a number of unique locations, this is the essential companion for divers, snorkellers and underwater photographers visiting this region.

The perfect guide to the fish and invertebrates of the CaribbeanRenowned for its diverse wildlife, turquoise waters and spectacular beaches, the Caribbean is also one of the most biologically rich environments in the Atlantic – home to 10 per cent of the world’s coral reefs and more than 1,400 species of fish and marine mammals.Covering a region stretching from the southern United States to the coast of South America, including the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda, Marine Life of the Caribbean features more than 650 species of fish, algae and invertebrates – from trunkfish to turtles and snappers to stingrays.Each species account includes key information on identification, habitats, diet and behaviour. Further sections on reef diving locations, marine habitats, tides and currents, as well as conservation zones and marine protected areas, are also included.This compact and easy-to-follow guidebook is an essential companion for divers, snorkellers and underwater photographers throughout the Caribbean.

An Underwater Guide to the Red Sea introduces over 1,000 species of invertebrate and over 200 species of coral, forming the basis of a marine eco-system which includes 1,100 species of fish, of which just under 20% are endemic. The high level of endemism is one of the main factors that makes scuba diving in Egypt so attractive. The dive sites offer unobstructed opportunities to spot tropical marine life in crystal-clear waters, ranging from sharks and dolphins to gorgonian fans and feather-stars. Diving types include shallow patch reefs, drift dives and walls, and a collection of some of the most interesting wrecks you are likely to find anywhere, including the world-famous Carnatic and Thistlegorm wrecks. Many of the reefs stretch out far into the sea and form intricate labyrinths of plateaus, lagoons, caves and gardens. Divided into three parts, the first is an introduction to diving and snorkelling in the Red Sea including what to expect and where to base yourself; next a guide to the best sites for diving and snorkelling; and finally a photographic identification of 282 of the most common species of fish, invertebrates, corals and megafauna. The second edition has been carefully updated, so that it continues to be an essential pocket guide for divers and snorkellers.