A spectacular reference book for the entire family, Violent Earth is an authoritative, stimulating, and visually arresting exploration of the dramatic forces that are constantly shaping our planet—often without warning and with devastating results.

Using powerful photography, specially commissioned illustrations, and intuitive infographics, Violent Earth explores plate tectonics, vulcanology, and seismology in unprecedented detail.

Drawing on the latest scientific research and including detailed maps, revealing areas of key geological activity, such as earthquake zones, volcanic sites, and plate boundaries, Violent Earth also looks at some of the most famous events associated with these places, from the historic eruptions of Laki, Iceland, which is credited with triggering the French Revolution, to the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed more than 250,000 people in 2010.

Established in 1846, The Smithsonian Institution is a world renowned research center, dedicated to public education, national service, and scholarship in the arts, sciences, and history.

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A "Good Morning America" Favorite Coffee Table Book of 2011!