Noted Kentucky futurist, Ivan Potter, announced yesterday the emergence of a new 21st century geographic entity in mid America called the "Great Rivers Megalopolis".

 

Potter, speaking Tuesday at the annual conference of Kentucky and Tennessee Marina Associations in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on future trends and issues impacting marinas, defined this Great Rivers Megalopolis as a new counter weight to the existing urbanization of American major population centers.

 

The boundary of the Great Rivers Megalopolis is a region framed by the urban centers of St. Louis, Cincinnati, Knoxville and Memphis interacting with the river basins of the Mississippi River, Ohio River, Cumberland River and Tennessee River.

 

Addressing the conference, Potter stressed the importance and power of this new region for its future role in a new administration's goal of achieving energy independence from foreign oil sources as the principle source of energy for America in the new century.

 

Potter told his audience that this is the "first real 'birth' of a super region in the modern world where natural resources trump population as the principle reason for existence as a well defined region and regional centers for commerce."

 

Unlike the existing large urban corridors found in modern America, which are framed over and around superhighways, the Great Rivers Megalopolis is framed by super rivers and their watersheds.

 

Modern American urban centers, like Atlanta-Durham, Washington-Boston corridors, are based upon the daily needs and services of the general population.

 

The Great Rivers Megalopolis is based upon the production of energy-food-and fresh water as its primary reason for growth and commerce.

 

Potter went on to say "During the next decade, 2018, this region will emerge as the energy capital of America with over 100 billion dollars committed to new research and development centers throughout its boundaries. The Great River Megalopolis will become America's next great energy frontier."

 

Mr. Potter holds a bachelor's degree in Geography from Murray State University and a Master's degree in Planning from Southern Illinois University. He has served four Kentucky governors and two American presidents.  He currently edits the Mississippi River Journal  which serves Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman and McCracken Counties.

 

For more information

email marybpotter@bellsouth.net

or call 270-254-1315