4 MAINE INTRODUCTION As the largest state among the six in New England Maine is something like the big fish in a small pond The state is not only the most northeastern state in New England it is the most northeastern state in the entire nation About 500 years ago Maine’s location made it a prime fishing and trading destination for explorers Today fishing is still important to the area Due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean the state has one of the largest annual ocean catches in the nation Along with the large catches off the Atlantic coast Maine is also known for its beautiful coastline which is nearly 3,500 miles long Charming fishing towns and beautiful beaches grace its shore There are also many rocky outcroppings and islands that made navigating the coast very tricky and dangerous in Maine’s early days Lighthouses were built to guide ships and today Maine has more than 60 lighthouses along its shore The Marshall Point Light marks the entrance to Port Clyde a small fishing town and former shipbuilding hub Maine’s state motto is Dirigo which is Latin for I direct Augusta is the capital of Maine It is the most eastern capital city in the United States Maine’s coast has sandy beaches tiny fishing villages and the only national park in New England Acadia National Park
INTRODUCTION 5 Maine shares more of its border with Canadian provinces than it does with other states The province of Quebec borders Maine to the northwest and the province of New Brunswick borders it to the northeast Maine shares its western border with the state of New Hampshire and its entire southern border hugs the Atlantic Ocean There are a number of ways to get to Maine The largest and busiest airport in the state is Portland International Jetport For those traveling by automobile a number of highways link the state to other parts of the country One of the busiest highways in Maine is Interstate 95 Although passenger trains do not serve Maine several bus lines including Concord Trailways and Greyhound bring passengers to various points in the state Maine can also be reached by water Ferries provide service to many of Maine’s ports along the Atlantic Ocean Maine Location Map Maine is the 39th largest state in area in the country Portland is Maine’s largest and busiest city Eastport is the most eastern city in the United States People in Eastport see the morning sun before anyone else in the country Maine is the only state in the Union that borders on only one other state New Hampshire Maine has about 23,000 miles of public roads and highways most of which are paved Maine is the only U S state whose name has just one syllable 0 0 Capital Augusta Population 1,274,923 Interstate highways 19 37 30 60 Km Mi Scale Size 33,128 square miles Highest peak Mount Katahdin 5,268 feet
Throughout history Maine’s thick forests and abundant ocean life have supported the inhabitants of the area Early Native Americans hunted in the forests and fished the rivers lakes and coastal waters When Europeans arrived in what is now Maine the region’s resources helped them establish profitable trapping and fishing industries as well as successful lumber and shipbuilding companies Early explorers included the Spanish the English and possibly even the Vikings but it was the French who probably first tried to settle the area in 1604 The colony moved to Nova Scotia shortly thereafter During the 1620s several permanent English settlements were founded along Maine’s coast Some people believe that the name Maine may have been chosen to distinguish the mainland settlements from the island settlements By the mid-1800s thousands of people from other states and immigrants from different parts of Europe had come to Maine to take advantage of its natural riches Many came to work in mills and plants that produced goods such as paper textiles shoes and foodstuffs Maine’s resources were responsible for the growth of both its economy and its population Maine lobster is a delicacy that is available year-round 6 MAINE The lighthouse at Owl’s Head is 30 feet tall It stands at the entrance of Rockland Harbor Maine entered the Union as the 23rd state on March 15 1820 Only 10 states in the country have fewer people than Maine Maine is home to the first chartered city in the country Gorgeana now called York was chartered in 1641 Maine’s official state song is the State of Maine Song One of the state’s largest annual events is the Maine Lobster Festival It is held in Rockland every August
INTRODUCTION 7 Maine is nicknamed the Pine Tree State This is because towering pine trees once dominated Maine’s forests Many pine trees were cut down in the 1700s and 1800s for use in the lumber and shipbuilding industries Still nearly 90 percent of Maine is forested today more than any other U S state Maine’s nickname is still fitting as there are now many second-growth pine trees in the state Forestry continues to be an important industry and there are many sawmills and lumber camps operating in the state Maine is known for its specialty wood products including toothpicks Ecotourism is another industry that is supported by Maine’s natural resources Ecotourists come to the area to enjoy the outdoors in a careful and respectful manner Campers and hikers tread lightly on the land making sure to pick up after themselves along the way Residents and visitors alike work to ensure that the natural resources that have defined Maine for centuries remain protected for centuries to come The white pine tree which grows in Maine is thought to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States Maine’s state tree is the white pine The trunk of this tree was ideal for the construction of masts during Maine’s early shipbuilding days Maine’s state vessel is the Bowdoin a schooner that crossed the Arctic Circle in 1921 Maine’s state bird is the chickadee It is only about 5 inches long and can be found throughout the state The state insect is the honeybee Maine’s state fish is the landlocked salmon These fish live in Maine’s lakes and rivers and attract many sportfishers to the state every year Some landlocked salmon can weigh up to 35 pounds Kayaking is just one of many outdoor activities enjoyed in Maine
