Explore a destination located in Maine, United States
Maine, labeled as the "Pine Tree State," is located in the northeastern corner of the United States. The state sits to the south of Quebec, and its southern borders reach the Atlantic Ocean. To the west, Maine's borders meet the state of New Hampshire.[1] Almost 80% of the state is covered in forest. The land is divided into three geographic areas consisting of sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, salt marshes, mountains, and fertile soils.[8] The state is known for its cold fishing waters, historical lighthouses along its shoreline, and its variety of museums, natural history sites, and extensive harbors. The three most populous cities in the state include Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor. Some other cities within Maine include Auburn, Biddeford, Sanford, Saco, and Westbrook.[2] The cold and rainy season in Maine lasts on average nine months of the year. The warm season is three months long. The average high temperature in the "Pine Tree State" is 69 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low is around 41 degrees Fahrenheit.[5] Over half of the United State's lobster and blueberry production comes out of Maine[7]. There are several different types of plant and animal species within the state's three geographical areas.[6]
Maine is known for being the northernmost state in the United States as well as the only state that shares a border with just one other state, New Hampshire. The state has a rocky coast with its very own harbor leading to the Atlantic Ocean.[1] As the largest producer of blueberries, the state has many harvesting farms for the berry. Lobsters are also primarily sourced from Maine. The crustaceans can be caught all throughout the state's harbors.[7] Around 37 million people visit Maine every year. Most visitors come to visit the various lighthouses, museums, and parks within the state. Guests will often participate in other activities within the state, including taking lobster catching tours and camping in the Acadia National Forest.[4] A ferry is available to transport guests to Monhegan Island, where 54 permanent residents reside. The island was previously a plantation and still produces cotton today. Monhegan Island is a popular tourist destination for artists and art lovers as the Monhegan Museum of Art and History is located on the island. Lighthouses line the rocky coastline of Maine the most sought after, include the Portland Head Lighthouse, Nubble Lighthouse, the Boothbay Harbor, West Quoddy Head, and the Pemaquid Point Light. The cities of Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor host most of the tourists that visit Maine.[2] Over 107,000 jobs are sustained through tourism in the state and raise around 2.5 billion dollars every year.[4] Visitors to Maine typically come from across the Canadian border from Quebec or New Brunswick; additional visitors come from all throughout the United States.[3] The state bird in Maine is the black-capped chickadee, and the state flower is the white pinecone and tassel. Augusta is the capital of Maine although Portland is the state's largest city.[1]
Maine was the 23rd state to be appointed in the United States around 1820. It is unclear where the state of Maine's name came from. The most popular theory is that the French settlers on the land named the area after a French province. Others believe that the word Maine was derived from the practical term "main" or "mainland" as the state is surrounded by several islands.[9] Maine is commonly known as the "Pine Tree State" due to the region's extensive pine forests that cover over half of the state. The white pine is the main tree growing in Maine and part of its namesake.[6] The lobster and blueberry industries are most notable in Maine; other foods produced at large in the state include apples, potatoes, and salmon. The manufacturing industry throughout the state is very prominent as well. Many products are manufactured in the state, including cotton clothing, paper products, electronic equipment, and transportation equipment. Several mining endeavors have also been made throughout the state, including the mining of sand, gravel, various clays, copper, and zinc.[7] L.L. Bean is the largest corporate business in Maine, employing over 5,100 individuals. The company sells a variety of hiking equipment, firearms, backpacks, tents, clothing, and other weather and utility supplies. Other large corporations in Maine include J. D. Irving and Idexx Laboratories.[1]
The state of Maine is located in the northeastern corner of the United States. New Hampshire borders the state on its western side, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, New Brunswick to the west, and Quebec to the north. The state is the largest of the New England states. The Quoddy Head Lighthouse is the United States' most eastern point as the closest place to Africa and Europe. There are three distinct geographic areas in Maine. The first of these areas is the Coastal Lowlands, which reside along the Atlantic coastline and spread inland around forty miles. These areas have sandy beaches, salt marshes, bays, inlets, and coastal islands. Most of these islands were originally mountains before the ice age. One set of these islands is known as the Acadia National Park. The Eastern New England Uplands is the second of the geographical areas. Located north of the Coastal Lowlands, the region is made up of fertile soil, lakes, streams, and the Longfellow Mountains. Most of the state's food is produced in the Coastal Lowlands. The last of the geographical areas is the White Mountains. These mountains are covered with white pine trees almost entirely and include Maine's highest point, Mount Katahdin. Over 80% of Maine is left uninhabited as it is covered in dense forest.[8]
There are a variety of animals and plants that flourish in Maine. The moose is the state animal and can typically be seen when visiting the area. Other animals that take residence in the region include black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, bald and golden eagles, Canada lynx, great grey owls, and many birds. Some reptiles thrive in Maine, like the northern redbelly snakes and smooth green snakes. Common plants located in the forest, on beaches, and in more mountainous areas of the state include black oaks, sugar maples, black walnuts, American elms, white pine trees, Canada violet, queen Anne's lace, and the calypso orchid. Maine's state tree is the white pine tree.[6]
The weather in Maine can change daily and includes all seasons. The summers are comfortable, with average temperatures around 69 degrees. The warm season lasts for four months, from June to September. The winter is oftentimes extremely cold, and harsh winds are often sustained throughout the season. The cold season lasts from December to March and has an average temperature of 41 degrees. The wet season in Maine lasts nine months, from March to December, while the remaining three months are relatively dry. The state receives around 40 inches of rain annually and 50 inches of snow. During the windier parts of the year, guests can read a speed of ten miles per hour.[5]
Those who first inhabited the land arrived over 12,000 years ago; most of these were Native American tribes and Ice Age Hunters. The Micmacs people lived in the northeastern area of Maine and were a very warlike tribe, while the Wabanakis were a more peaceful tribe to the south. Other native tribes in the area included the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Abenaki, and Penobscot.[9] Today there are still two Passamaquodies reservations in Maine. Leif Ericsson brought the first British and French colonists to Maine in 1652. The region was established as a state in March of 1820 as the twenty-third state in the United States.[1]
Originally over half of the land in Maine was split between Massachusetts and Canada. The general demographic of the state remains similar to when it was first settled as most residents are from France, England, and other European countries. In 1774, Maine's residents burned a shipment of British tea in defiance of Britain's high taxes shortly after the Boston Tea Party. After this, the British forces burned Falmouth, Maine. When the Revolutionary War began in 1775, many of Maine's residents participated in the war's first naval battle. Following the war, the boundaries of Maine were taken into consideration, and there were several disputes on where the boundary lines should sit between Maine and New Brunswick.[9]
Since it was first settled, Maine's geography has undergone several changes. As the shores of the coast lead directly into the Atlantic Ocean, the tides and waterways have "drowned" many of the land's former features. In response to the discovery of these harsh water features, the people of Maine decided to build more of their homes, cities, and other establishments near the center of the state. Many of the original cities, native tribal grounds, and small farming villages located near the water in the state's early years have been completely destroyed due to water activity, however, because most of the lighthouses were placed high on cliffs or hills overlooking the water, most have been preserved.[8]
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