Published in 2018 to coincide with Algonquin Park's 125th anniversary, this full colour photographic testimonial is a celebration of the many plants and wildlife found within its protected borders.

Algonquin Park was established in 1893 when the Ontario government acted upon a recommendation of the Royal Commission on Forest Reservation and National Parks in "reserving a portion of the ungranted Crown domain to be set apart as a Forest Reservation and National Park."

From peatlands to coniferous forests, from spring peepers to yellow toadflax, from moose to osprey to beavers and spotted salamanders, the park teems with life all year round.

Set upon the Canadian Shield, Algonquin Park bears the unusual distinction of having rivers flow north, south, east, and west from its domain.

Michael Runtz
has been an avid birdwatcher since the age of five and has worked as an interpretive naturalist in Algonquin Provincial and Point Pelee National parks, hosted an international television series Wild by Nature, authored 10 natural history books, and written more than 1,000 newspaper and magazine natural history articles.

Michael teaches Natural History and Ornithology courses at Carleton University where his highly visual teaching style continues to attract record enrolments (to date more than 41,000 students have taken Natural History). Michael has received numerous awards including the Council of Canadian University Biology Chairs Distinguished Public Science Education Award and the Carleton University Lifetime Achievement Award.

A popular keynote speaker and a regular guest on radio and television, Michael was the only Canadian featured in the TVO/NHK Japan 2001 Superteachers series that profiled such notables as Jane Goodall and Nelson Mandella.

Michael Runtz's profile page

"Michael Runtz's new book is a love story about Algonquin Park."
— The Ottawa Citizen