Rushing past the fall foliage of New York's Adirondack Mountains, the West Branch of the Ausable River is one of the many waterways included in Tim Palmer's new book Rivers of America.

Now an award-winning author, conservationist, and photographer, Palmer spent his childhood immersed in the currents of the Ohio and Youghiogheny (yock-a-GEN-ee) rivers. His book, which includes 200 photographs of rivers in the United States, is a result of his lifelong passion for rivers and their power to sustain life and captivate the mind.

Get a sneak peek at selected photos from Rivers of America and learn more about the country's vital waterways.

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