World Atlas of the Oceans: With the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (Gebco) Published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service

With the Canadian Hydrographic Service compiling decades of multination collaborative research, a team of oceanographers writing the text and Dr. Manfred Leier serving as editor, the World Atlas of the Oceans details the entire ocean floor. This giant book offers clear, informative text (rather like an encyclopedia entry in tone), but its real strength is its visual richness: the full-color relief maps, bathymetrics charts, satellite images, illustrations and underwater photographs. From the Arctic to the Mediterranean, and from Namibia's ""sulfur pearls"" (the world's largest bacteria) to Alaska's ""black smokers"" (deep-sea oases), this atlas will please anyone with an interest in oceanography, cartography, biology and geology.