Book excerpt: The Hudson River was once thought to be a great northwest passage that went through America and joined the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Instead, a canal system opened up the center of America to settlement. The Hudson has spectacular valleys and dangerous waters. Land shifts have changed the course of the river. Much of the natural beauty of the land is now under the ocean, buried by thousands of years of sediment. Here are some interesting facts about this great river. How much do you know about the Hudson River? Who was Henry Hudson? Is the Hudson River Gorge above water or below water? How did the Hudson River create "the Narrows" and separate Long Island from Staten Island? How many of New York's rare species live in the Upper Hudson Basin? And many more. Find out more about the Hudson River and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 6.9 Ages 8 and up. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.