Maine is the easternmost land in the United States. Maine is the greenest state in the US

Maine is the most northeastern and largest of all American states included in the region New England. In the north and east, the state borders with the province of Canada New Brunswick, in the northwest with Quebec, from the south of the land of the state it is washed by the bay Atlantic Ocean, from the west, a common border area with New Hampshire. The name, presumably, the state owes English words"mainland" or "main", which means the mainland. Since 1665, it is the “Province of Maine” that appears in the reports of English settlers.

The lands of the state are divided into eight tourist areas:

• Aroostook River Valley (Crown of Maine);
• Highlands of Maine;
• Eastern Acadia (Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor);
• Coast of Maine (Boothbay and Rockland),
• Greater Portland and Casco Bay,
• South coast(Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, York and Wells)
• Lakes and mountains of western Maine
• Valley of the Kennebec River

The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is replete with numerous bays, and in coastal zone there is a large number of fragments of rocky mountains that fell into the water during the convergence of glaciers. Apparently, therefore, there are 65 historical coastal lighthouses in the area.

More than 83 percent of the state's territory is occupied by forests. Maine is often referred to as the "Pine State" and 542,000 acres of state and national parks make this clear. There are bears and deer in the Maine woods, and beavers in the cleanest rivers.

Due to the rocky soil, large-scale agriculture is not possible, but despite this, the state ranks seventh in growing potatoes. Since ancient times, the main activity of the population has been fishing. Today, fishing trawlers with a large catch enter the harbor of the large coastal city of Portland.

Story

People have inhabited the lands of the present state for thousands of years. By the arrival of Europeans, the Indian tribes of the Abnak, Mikmaks, Malesites and Penobscots lived in the northeast. They all spoke Algonquin languages. The first European to visit these lands was the Scandinavian Viking Leif Eriksson. According to some studies, it is believed that he visited the coast of the state in the 10th century. The first recorded visit of a European took place in 1524. The official championship belongs to the Italian Giovanni da Verrazzano, who at that time was in the service of the French fleet, he explored new lands for France. The first European settlement in Maine was established by Frenchmen Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua. In 1906 they founded a colony called Acadia, in what is now Maine and Quebec. After 3 years, the British founded their colony, calling it Popham Colony, but this attempt to settle was unsuccessful due to harsh weather conditions and hostile Indians. In 1652 this land became part of the colony of England in Massachusetts Bay. Until 1920, Maine would be considered part of Massachusetts. All these years, the French and English colonizers fought for supremacy in the region. England finally gained control at the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. Maine was part of Massachusetts during the American Revolution. Until 1783 the territories remained under British control.

The people of Maine wanted independence from Massachusetts. On March 15, 1820, they announced their desire and became the 23rd state of America.

Attractions

Maine State Museum is one of the oldest state-funded museums in the country. More than 500,000 items are stored in its storerooms, ranging from silver spoons to a sawmill. All this is presented in the permanent exhibition. You can learn the history of the state in archival documents and photographs, see the tools of labor of lumberjacks and ice axes, collections of silver, ceramics, stacks, textiles, examine artifacts related to the participation of Maine in the Civil War in the numerous halls of the museum. The museum's collection of flags from the Civil War is the most complete and well-preserved.

Stunning piece of military architecture Fort Knox built between 1844 and 1869. The strategic location on the banks of the Penobscot River allowed the fort to serve as a garrison station during various wars. Visitors can explore the inside of the fort and see the collection of weapons from the Civil War. Tours run daily during the summer season.

The lighthouses of the state are of particular tourist interest. Maine. Thousands of tourists come to the coast of the state to see more than 60 lighthouses.

Each tourist region of Maine offers to visit its pride - national natural parks. Hundreds of kilometers hiking trails By reserved places are striking in their diversity.

Transport

Airports

The largest and most popular international airports in the state are located in Portland and Bangor. A network of regional airports is also developed, located in Augusta, Hancock, Knox and Presque Isle. small airfields small aviation There are also other cities in the state.

Railway stations

Rail service connects Brunswick to North Boston Station. Along the way, the train stops in major cities such as Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Wells.

Car roads

I-95 passes through Maine, US 1 starts at Fort Kent and leads to Florida. US 2 starts at Holton in Aroostook County, passes near the Canadian border to New Brunswick, and continues to New York's Ruses Point. Highway US 2A connects Old city with Orono, primarily suitable for a trip to the University of Maine. Maine Roads 6 and 9 are used by motorists on their way to the seaside areas and serve the shortest way to get to central Canada.

The state flag of Maine is a symbol of power and sovereignty, as well as a source of pride for its people. The flag of Maine is placed on all public buildings, as expected, slightly lower than the flag of the United States of America.

The state flag of the state of Maine was approved in 1909. The coat of arms of the state is located in the center of the blue panel. In the center of the coat of arms there is a shield depicting an elk resting under a pine tree against the backdrop of forest and water. The shield is supported by a farmer with a scythe and a sailor with an anchor. Above the shield is the motto, translated from Latin meaning "I lead" and the North Star. The elk represents Maine's rich wildlife, the pine symbolizes the importance of timber to the development of the state's shipbuilding industry, the forests and rivers show the wealth of the state's natural resources, the farmer is a symbol of the agricultural roots, the sailor represents the strong ties with the sea and the decisive role of maritime trade in the state's economy. Northern polar Star symbolizes the northernmost position of the state. Alaska displaced Maine from its northernmost position only in 1949.

Maine is a state located in northeast region USA. It is one of the states of New England. The population is 1,329,192 (2012). Area 91,646 km². The capital is the city of Augusta. The eastern and northern regions of the state border on the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec, the western region - with New Hampshire, in the southeast it has access to the Atlantic Ocean. The state consists of 22 cities and more than 400 settlements. In 1820 it became the 23rd state of the United States.

State Attractions

Not far from the city of Freeport is unusual place- desert in the middle pine forest. This place is a local attraction, there is a souvenir shop, a farm museum, a sand museum, a 200-year-old barn. You can climb to the top of the White Mountains, visit one of the best ski centers in Sia Isle, and visit the museum fine arts in Rockland. Acadia National Park is located in northern Maine. The main attraction of the park is the Ring Road, which is located in the mountains of pink granite. In the state capital, you can visit the Capitol building, the Museum with a large collection of archeology, industry, state history, visit the oldest wooden fort, Old West Fort.

Geography and climate

On greater territory The state is located on the spurs of the Appalachians. The highest point is Mount Katahdin (1606 meters). About 13.5% of the territory is occupied by the water surface. There are many lakes and rivers here. The easternmost point of the states is the West Quaddy Lighthouse. In the north of Maine there are islands, in the southern part of the coast - sandy beaches. The picturesque rock of Kineo rises above Mushead Lake. Major rivers: Kennebec, St. John, Penobscot, St. Croix. About 84% of the territory is occupied by forests (pine, spruce, beech, birch, fir). The climate is humid temperate. average temperature July is 15-18°C, January is about 5°C. About 1000 mm of precipitation falls annually.

Economy

On the territory of the state there are deposits of precious stones, lead, zinc, gravel, sand, clay, limestone, peat and granite are also mined. Important sectors of the economy are woodworking, pulp and paper, textile, leather and footwear, clothing industries, and shipbuilding. Maine is home to the headquarters of major semiconductor companies. Here, 32,000 tons of lobsters, over 60,000 tons of fish and over 20,000 tons of shellfish are caught annually. About 18% of the state is occupied by agriculture (small farms). Most of the production comes from animal husbandry (cattle, pigs, poultry), and valuable fish species (trout, salmon) are also bred. The food industry produces a large number of eggs and dairy products. They grow potatoes (1st place), apples, corn, beans, blueberries, and cranberries. Maine is the largest producer of maple sugar and syrup.

Population and religion

The population density is 16.6 people per km². Racial composition The state's population is as follows: 94.4% White, 1.1% African American, 1% Asian, 0.6% Native American, 0.1% other races, 1.4% two or more races, 1 .3% are Hispanics. Most of the white population is of this origin: English - 30.6%, French Canadian - 25%, Irish - 18.3%, German - 8.3%, Italian - 5.8% and Scottish - 4.8%. About 92% of the state's residents speak English at home. English language, 5.28% in French. Maine ranks second in the United States in terms of the percentage of American residents who are of French descent. By religion, 82% of the population identify themselves as Christians (45% are Protestants, 37% are Catholics), about 1% are other religions, and about 17% are atheists.

Do you know...

The famous writer Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine.

The first half of the story is about a trip to the northeastern United States.

Part 1: arrival in Maine; national park Acadia
: Shooting the Atlantic puffins - Bar Harbor - homecoming.

By mid-summer, we were finally tired of the humid 37-degree Texas bath, and decided that everyone needed a break. At a time when most people are trying to go south to the sea in the summer, many "southerners" do exactly the opposite: they try to climb as far north as possible.

A big vacation was not yet in sight, but a week around American Independence Day (July 4) could be snatched away. The state of Maine was chosen as the destination, or as it is more correct to call it in Russian - “Maine”. First of all, because of the weather: 22 ° C seemed to us an unattainable paradise; the presence of the ocean also played an important role, as did the presence of the national park Acadia NP, which has long been a dream to see. In addition, I wanted to paint over another square on the map of the visited states. For us Main became the 36th, and for little Sashenka - the fourth.

Maine is in the extreme northeast of the country; it is the closest part of the USA to Europe. The origin of the name "Maine" is unknown. According to one version, it is associated with the French historical region of Maine, according to another, it was first used by settlers from England who lived on the islands and denoted mainland as “main” (eng. “going to the main” - “go to the mainland”). Maine has existed as a separate state since 1820 following the Missouri Compromise. He entered the US 23rd in a row.
Well, for all fans of horror movies, the name of the state should be well known, since the famous Stephen King is a native of these places, and in many of the writer's books, events take place in Maine.

Remembering how many extra things for the child I collected during the winter trip to New Mexico and Colorado, I drew the appropriate conclusions, cutting down the luggage very much. This time it was necessary to travel by plane, wherever you want or don’t want, but you need to carefully monitor the weight of the suitcases. But still, there were more baby things and toys in terms of volume than both of us put together :) The child flew without a place, “in parent lap”. For half of the flight time, she entertained herself and those around her with joyful googling, and for the other half she simply fell asleep. There were no screams from pain in my ears, although I mentally prepared for such a development of events, having read the impressions of other mothers.

There are no direct flights from Houston to Maine, so we decided to fly to Boston, and then rent a car and catch up with the remaining 290 miles on wheels. At the Alamo car rental center near the Boston airport, Logan was pleased with the fact that they were allowed to choose any of the cars presented in the parking lot in the declared category; they are usually more specific.

Through a series of tunnels, we got out of Boston to the north, and along the way we were amazed at how accurately people comply with the speed limit rules on the roads, not even exceeding 5 miles. With our Texas driving style, we looked like real “speedy Gonzales” against their background :)

The child fell asleep instantly, comfortably sitting in a chair under a blanket, so without stopping anywhere, an hour later they were already crossing the border with the state of New Hampshire. There was nothing to drive along it, a tiny 20-minute piece, and of course it was worth looking into one of the “liquor state store”, because. New Hampshire is one of the 18 US states that has a state monopoly over the wholesale and/or retail trade in alcohol. Prices in such stores are low, comparable to those in Texas, although usually everything is more expensive in the north. After buying all sorts of wine for ourselves and friends who also planned to drive up to Maine a day later, we soon found ourselves in the pine state. And I must say that the nickname was given to Maine not in vain: on the sides of the road stretched endless coniferous forests that fill the air with a heady aroma.

There were no businesses accompanying the road at all: in order to eat or refuel, one had to move out somewhere to the surrounding villages. For gasoline (regular), they wanted an average of $2.80 per gallon, which was 20-30 cents higher than Texas prices. After the bustling city of Ellsworth with quite developed infrastructure(Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Shaw's chains), Milbridge, our intended overnight stay, was only 30 miles away.

Having passed the bridge over the Narraguagus River, we quickly found a cottage rented for vacation ($100 per day). The house was built in a typical New England style, not very remarkable from the outside, but inside it is cozy and equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay.

Three bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom with a dozen towels of various sizes and toiletries. A veranda ran along the perimeter of the house; a grill is at the disposal of the guests. The hosts were so kind that they even brought and assembled a crib for little Sashenka, inherited from one of their grandchildren. So we didn't even have to carry a portable bed for the baby.

A huge lawn in front of the house completed the picture, the groves on the sides completely hid from the neighbors. A staircase descended from the far end of the lawn, leading directly to the river bank. From the place we were completely delighted and can safely recommend.

We called the owner, who immediately came from a neighboring site. We talked with him “for life”, how they live here, eat and sleep. 99% of the population is white, even in the service industry and road services. For those coming from the American South, this is _very_ striking. However, recently Mexicans have begun to appear in the state. They come to work on blueberry plantations (season in August) and seafood processing plants. In particular, some specific type of eel, which the locals not only do not eat, but even disdain to touch. The eel is exported to Korea, where it is considered a delicacy.

In general, what can be said about the area where the main news broadcast on television for three days is a lost elk in one of the towns of the state?! A busy life for people! But the main thing is that this suits many, and to change the usual way of life for bustle of the city, marzipan and fildepers they disagree :)

Along the way, we received a lot of advice from the owner on local attractions, a topographic atlas, many different guidebooks for Maine, a city newspaper, and even ... a good bird guide. Knew, knew how to bribe!
After a light dinner with wine, fatigue took its toll, and we passed out before we even had time to properly watch the local news.

The next morning we decided to start with Acadia National Park, not the island part of it, where most tourists tend to, but from the mainland, called the “Schoodic Peninsula”, 40 miles east of the main point of entry.

Much of the Skudik Peninsula was formerly owned by John Moore, a Wall Street-born financial tycoon. In the 1920s, Moore's heirs donated these lands to public use with the condition that they should be used as a park, as well as for biological and other scientific research.

In the 30s, the peninsula had already come under the wing of the National Park Service ( national park Service) and was assigned to Acadia NP.

A good one-way road is laid along the coast, conveniently bending around all the main points of the peninsula. Schoodic Point is the southernmost of them, from which the powerful surf looks most impressive. And also, diabase dikes are best seen there - large “veins” of dark basalt that have carved their way into the old granite.

About 5 miles from Ellsworth we stopped for lunch at Ruth Murphy's. Maine's signature dish is lobster. They are boiled in salt water in outdoor cauldrons at restaurants (lobster pounds) and served with melted butter. You can order different:

"cull" - a lobster with one, the largest claw;
"chicken" - female, usually no more than a pound in weight; it is believed that it has the most tender meat;
"hard shell" and "soft shell". Soft shell (recently replaced by chitin lobsters) are practically not subject to transportation, so the only chance to taste them is in Maine itself. The average price is $12.

It is noteworthy that up to 90% of the lobster catch is taken outside the state. In cooking, lobster is considered a delicacy. In food, meat is used from under the shell, in the tail, legs, liver and caviar. Salads, aspic, croquettes, souffles, mousses, soups are prepared from it. For optimal culinary qualities, a lobster must be at least six months old and weigh at least 500 grams. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest lobster caught in Canada weighed just over 20 kg.

But the traditional “Maine” clam chowder was not at all liked in that restaurant. I am a fan of this soup and was very disappointed when they brought the local version with hot milk instead of cream. The texture is not the same, and the taste is different. Still, I like New England chowder more, but more daring, but with crackers. I think!
There is also a variation with tomatoes (Manhattan clam chowder), but New Englanders consider the addition of tomatoes a barbaric New York habit, to the point that in 1939 a bill was introduced in the Maine House of Representatives to ban tomatoes in seafood soup.

And you say bans on marijuana, homomarriage, abortion... Tomatoes in the soup are much more important! No, but what? After chasing a moose for three days, and then they will also serve a clam chowder with tomatoes, it’s not far from a nervous breakdown :)

After a hearty lunch, it is supposed ... no, not to sleep, but to go further, to explore the main part of Acadia. Only 15 miles from Ellsworth; the signs are well placed. On the way to Mount Desert Island, there were numerous lobster restaurants and various souvenir shops. In my opinion one of best souvenirs, which can be brought from Maine to decorate the house are buoys from lobster traps (lobster trap buoys). Usually they are very brightly colored (to be clearly visible in any bad weather), and each fisherman uses only his own combination of colors or ornaments. By law, lobster fishers are only allowed to pull traps with their own markings, and the colors of the buoys must be present in the colors of the boat. In the past, floats were all wood, but now many are made of foam.

Having paid $20 per car (the pass is valid for a week) to enter this part of Acadia, one could now enjoy all the benefits of the park. First of all, it's a 27-mile roundabout highway, with which it is convenient to make radial sorties through the surrounding forests and mountains.

For those interested, there is also historical Museum, small Botanical Garden(Wild Gardens of Acadia), a carriage road system built with money from Rockefeller Jr.; not to mention the numerous forest reservoirs, where it is very good to freshen up on a sunny summer day. True, not for the inhabitants of Texas - for us, the water is far from comfortable :)

But there were still a lot of people on Sandy beach, all the branches of the road to the beach were forced by cars, even a policeman was on duty. Swimming, pushing elbows, or even just sitting on the sand on each other's heads was not part of the vacation dream package, so we took a long-awaited respite in another place, at Jordan Pond. Nestled between the Penobscot and Pemetic mountains, this body of water in the center of the park is very recognizable because of the two curves on the opposite bank known as "The Bubbles". Exactly this deep lake in the park (46 meters), where salmon and lake trout feel great.

Finally, it's time to explore the main treasure of Acadia - Mount Cadillac. Modern name the mountain received in 1918 (before that it was simply called “Green”) in honor of the French traveler and explorer Antoine de La Mothe-Cadillac (a famous brand of cars is also named after him). At an altitude of 470 meters above sea level, Mount Cadillac is the highest point on the entire east coast of the United States, up to the Mexican Yucatan.

An excellent road leads to the top of the mountain, ending with an extensive parking lot. And then you can just walk on a rather flat top, and admire the views of the Porcupine Islands in the bay. Like much of Acadia, they were carved out by a receding prehistoric glacier.

There is a common misconception among the people that Cadillac Mountain is the very first point in the United States that the sun's rays touch every morning. One of the popular activities among tourists in Acadia is just climbing to the top to meet the “first sunrise of the nation”. However, the Cadillac is the first to meet a new day only in the autumn-winter period, and not at all in the summer, when the park is visited by most people.

I had to take turns walking along the trails at the top, as my daughter successfully fell asleep in the car, completely ignoring the beauty, so someone needed to stay by her side.

Having descended from the mountain, we got through to friends, agreeing to meet in the already familiar city of Ellsworth, at the Union River lobster pot restaurant. The restaurant is open from June to October and has a very varied menu. The children were impressed by the huge 42-year-old lobster, which one of the chefs showed to everyone. They were not going to cook it, rather, it served as a kind of mascot for the restaurant. And what there were bright orange mussels in blue shells, crab cakes, clam chowder (quite right for my taste!), And even Blueberry ale, which actually contains blueberries - everything was to my liking.
After dinner, we went to our Millbridge, hidden from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, where we ended the evening pleasantly on the lawn by the river.

The next morning we spent quite lazily: the children ran along the sand, collected shells, even one-year-old Sasha scored a good collection of “treasures”. The owner of the cottage looked for a short time from a neighboring plot to see if everything suits us, and if he can do anything else for us. How could such beauty not suit?! Quiet, calm, family place, to which there were no complaints at all.

A little later, they all went together to Roque Bluffs State Park, located about an hour north of Milbridge. In the park, you can swim immediately in both salty and fresh water, which are separated only by a narrow oblique. We had a great time, we didn't even want to leave. On the way back, we made a short detour through the town of Jonesport, where we took out a whole mountain of seafood in one of the roadside “lobster pounds” to arrange a real seaside feast in the cottage. And the accompanying sunset crowned such a beautiful summer day in the best possible way.

It's Independence Day (July 4th). This large-scale holiday is revered by many Americans, and besides, it is an official holiday. It is better to stock up on food and drink in advance, because. on this day, many shops and services are simply closed.

In the afternoon, after a rather relaxed morning in the cottage (and what? Vacation, we have the right!), We decided to still see something in the surroundings, eventually choosing the Petit Manan Wildlife refuge reserve. On the way, we grabbed booklets and a map of the area from the reserve office in Millbridge, and in 30 minutes we were already there. Given that we had children aged 12 months to 9 years with us, we stopped on a simple, 6-kilometer forest trail to the shore of Dyer Bay (Birch Point trail).

The description bribed: “Excellent trail for a family or group of friends to walk side by side”, i.e. “the perfect trail for a family or group of friends to walk along” and the promise of a variety of wildlife. True, we did not meet anyone larger than a woodpecker in the end, but the absence of mustachioed-striped ones brightened up vast blueberry fields with already ripe berries, although usually the peak falls on August. In general, the forest was very reminiscent of the one near St. Petersburg, if you go by train towards Kalishche: quite light, with a mass of small reservoirs with dark water, and extensive blueberry-cloudberry-cranberry thickets along the bottom.

In the evening we finally tried the grill at the cottage, having a dinner of scallops with Riesling; and dispersed long after midnight.

Katerina Andreeva.
Houston, Texas - Maine, USA.
July, 2010.

Maine
State of Maine
Nickname	"Pine State"
Motto	"I direct"
Official language	No
Spoken languages	English (92%) and French (5%)
Capital	Augusta
The largest city	Portland
By area	39th state
Total area	91,646 km²
Width	338 km
Length	515 km
% water surface	13,5
By population	41st state
Total population	1 328 302
Density	16.6 people/km²
Highest point	Mount Katahdin (1606.4 m)
Before statehood	County of Maine
Joining the Union	March 15, 1820 (23rd)
Administration website	http://www.maine.gov

Maine(English Maine, State of Maine, French État du Maine) - one of the US states that is part of the New England region in the Northeast of the country. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, the state of New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick to the north. Maine is the northernmost and most eastern state New England. The state is known for its landscapes: rugged rocky coastline, low rolling mountains and dense forests, picturesque by sea, as well as sea food, especially lobster and shellfish.

For thousands of years, the only inhabitants of what is now Maine were Indians. At the time of the meeting with Europeans, the area was inhabited by Algonquian-speaking Indians. The first European settlement was founded in 1604 by the French on the island of Saint-Cros. The first English settlement was the short-lived Popham Colony, founded in 1607. In the 1620s, a number of settlements were established along the coast of Maine by the British, although the harsh climate and conflicts with local population made life very difficult for them.

By the 18th century, no more than half a dozen settlements remained in Maine. During the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Maine became a battlefield for British troops and American patriots. Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820, until its inhabitants voted to secede from Massachusetts. On March 15, 1820, Maine was admitted to the United States as the 23rd state, in accordance with the Missouri Compromise by a free state. Maine is the 39th state by area and 41st by population of the 50 US states and is also considered the state with the lowest crime rate.

Name

There is no definitive explanation for the origin of the state's name. Legislative Assembly Maine adopted a resolution in 2001 establishing a Franco-American day, which states that the state was named after the French province of Maine. Other theories also point to other places with a similar name, and claim that the name was given by the settlers in memory of their homeland.

The first known mention of the current name is a land charter to Sir Fernando Georges and Captain John Mason dated August 10, 1622. Veterans of the English Royal Navy were granted a large tract of land in present-day Maine, which Mason and Georges "intended to call the Province of Maine". Mason served in the Royal Navy in Orkney, where main island called Mainland. A year later, in 1623, the English captain Christopher Levett, exploring the coast of New England, wrote: "The first place where I set foot on the land of New England was the island of Shoals, located in the sea, about two leagues from Maine." Regardless of origin, the name took hold in 1665 when the King's commissioners began using the name "Province of Maine" in official records.

Geography

From the south and east, the state of Maine is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in the north and northeast it borders on the Canadian province of New Brunswick, and in the northwest - on the province of Quebec. Maine is New England's northernmost state and also the largest in area, covering almost half of the region. Maine is the only state United States bordering only one other state (New Hampshire to the west).

Maine is the easternmost state in the US, while the city of Eastport and the town of Lübeck are the easternmost. settlements. Estcourt Station is the northernmost point in Maine and all of New England.

The landscape of the state was largely shaped by glaciers during the last ice age. Most of the state is occupied by the Appalachian mountain range and its spurs. Appalachians - low and gently sloping mountains - highest point in Maine, Mount Katahdin - only 1606 meters from sea level. Acadian National Park is home to Soames Sound and Bubble Rock. Soames Sound is the only fjord on the East Coast of the United States, its depth reaches 50 meters. Bubble Rock is a huge boulder, carried by a glacier for tens of kilometers.

Moosehead Lake is the largest lake located entirely in New England (the larger Lake Champlain is located on the border of the states of Vermont and New York, as well as Canada). A number of other lakes in Maine, such as South Twin Lake, were described by the famous American naturalist Henry Thoreau. Mount Katahdin in the Appalachians is the northernmost point of the Appalachian Trail starting in Georgia. Michias Seal Island and North Rock are the most eastern points state, are one of four areas disputed between the US and Canada. Also to the east, in the waters bordering Canada, is the Old Sow, the largest tidal whirlpool in the western hemisphere.

Maine is the least populous US state east of the Mississippi River. It has the nickname "Pine State" - about 83% of the land is covered with forest. The wooded areas off the coast are the least populated part of the state, with some pieces of land having no local government (a rarity in New England). For example, Aroostook Northwest, an unorganized area in the northern part of the state, has an area of ​​6910 km² and a population of 10 people. Thus, for each inhabitant of this territory there are 690 km² of land. Maine's forests are temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in the south of the state and New Anglian-Acadian forests in the rest of the territory. On the coast is the Acadian National Park - the only national park in New England.

Maine has almost 400 kilometers of coastline (the coast of the Atlantic Ocean). Coastline indented, there are many bays and thousands offshore islands, on the coast there are cliffs, cliffs, beaches and fishing villages.

Climate

Maine is located in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are warm (generally not hot), winters are cold and snowy, especially in the north of the state. The hottest month is July, with temperatures ranging from 24–27°C to 15°C. January temperatures range from 0°C in the south of the state to -18°C in the north. The state temperature record (41°C) was set in 1911 in North Brighton, the lowest temperature (-46°C) was set in 2009 on the Big Black River.

Thunderstorms in Maine are less than 20 days a year - the least amount east of rocky mountains. Tornadoes are rare, averaging twice a year and mostly in the southern part of the state. Annual rainfall ranges from 909 mm in Presque Isle to 1441 mm in Acadian National Park.

Story

The original inhabitants of what is now Maine were the Algolkian-speaking Indians: Abenaki, Passamaquoddy, Malesites, and Penobscots. The first European settlement here was founded by the Frenchman Pierre Dugua in 1604 on the island of Saint-Cros, among the founders was famous discoverer Samuel Champlain. The French called the whole area Acadia. The first English settlement was founded in 1607 by the Plymouth Company in Popham, but after 14 months the colonists left it.

Small in area, but very important in its significance for the country, the state of Maine annually attracts thousands of tourists. And this despite the rather harsh climatic conditions. What is the secret? It's just that Maine is rich in nature, architecture and events.

Story

He entered the Maine state 23rd in a row, in mid-March 1820. He was originally called free, i.e. slavery was not developed here. This is easily explained by the location of the territory - on the map of the country it is the northeast (upper right) corner. The capital is Augusta. The largest cities in Maine are Portland and Lewiston.

The first settlement of immigrants from Europe was founded here at the beginning of the 17th century. The French and British were very active in capturing this territory, due to the presence a large number minerals and proximity to the ocean.

In addition, a feature played a significant role, thanks to which the modern nickname of the state of Maine also arose. It is called the pine state (Maine state "Vacationland") for large quantity forests - a valuable source of timber for Europeans in the 17th century.

Terrain and climate

Maine is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. More than 80% of its territory is covered with forests, coniferous species predominate: spruce, pine, fir. The rest of the relief is represented by rivers and streams, lakes, spurs of the Appalachian mountains.

The climate here is quite cool. Winters are harsh and snowy. And the summer is not particularly hot: the highest temperatures are observed in July. The thermometers can reach 27°C, while the average temperature is only 15-18°C. But hurricanes and tornadoes are very rare in the state, which significantly increases its attractiveness.

Population and religion

The composition of the population in Maine is quite motley. These are mainly people from England (over 30%). Many local Americans are of French Canadian origin (25%) - this state leads in terms of the number of French-speaking population. Residents with Italian, Irish and German roots are largely represented.

African Americans, Asians and Indians also live here, but their numbers are much smaller than in other US territories. The main religion is Protestantism (Baptism).

Economy

The leading place among all sectors of the economy is occupied by agriculture. The state of Maine is the main source of potatoes for the whole country, it takes the 1st place in the collection of this plant.

Farming is significantly developed - cattle breeding, production of dairy products.

Maine's nature has also greatly contributed to the development of its economy. The territory is rich in minerals (clay, limestone, sand, peat, lead, precious stones, etc.) and forest resources (woodworking, pulp and paper industries).

Hydropower plays a significant role - almost all the cities of Maine "feed" from the rivers and lakes located here.

Education

The largest university is the University of Maine (University of Maine state). It was founded in 1865, and today it teaches about 11 thousand students from all over the state.

It is famous for its library, which has collected millions of books, including rare ones. It was here that the famous writer Stephen King studied.

Attractions

The capital of Maine invites travelers to visit the wooden fort fort western(one of the few remaining in the United States) and the Capitol building.

In this small town statue of samantha smith- an American schoolgirl who wrote a letter to Andropov Yu.V. during cold war. It is the only one in the whole world.

It will also be interesting for tourists to look at life artist communities in the Monhegan Islands, visit art Museum(Rockland).

One of the most significant attractions of the state is a desert area, located right in the middle of a pine forest ( freeport). Here you can take unique photos, buy souvenirs.

Fort Western
Desert Freeport
Capitol

And, of course, Maine has the opportunity to take in the beauty of the landscape and visit local small farms, which are the mainstay of the state's economy and showcase the life of Americans in the northwest of the country.

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