Maine Theme
State of Maine
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 |
 | |
| Nickname | The Pine Tree State |
|---|---|
| Motto | Dirigo (Latin for I lead) |
| Demonym | Mainer |
| Capital | Augusta |
| Largest city | Portland |
| Largest metro area | Portland-South Portland-Biddeford |
| Area | Ranked: 39th in the US
Total: 35,385 sq miWidth: 210 miles Length: 320 miles Water: 13.5 |
| Population | Ranked: 41st in the US
Total: 1,328,361Density: 43.1/sq mi |
| Elevation | Highest Point: Mount Katahdin 5,268 ft Mean: 591 ft Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 ft |
| Before statehood | District of Maine |
| Admission to Union | March 15, 1820 (23rd) |
State Symbols
| Berry | Wild Blueberry |
|---|---|
| Bird | Black-capped Chickadee |
| Cat | Maine Coon |
| Fish | Land-locked salmon |
| Flower | White Pinecone and Tassel |
| Fossil | Pertica Quadrifaria |
| Gemstone | Tourmaline |
| Herb | Wintergreen |
| Insect | European honey bee |
| Mammal | Moose |
| Beverage | Moxie |
| Soil | Chesuncook soil series |
| Song | State of Maine Song |
| Tree | Eastern White Pine |
| Vessel | Arctic exploration schooner Bowdoin |
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, New Hampshire to the southwest, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is the northern and easternmost portion of New England. It is known for its scenery—its jagged, mostly rocky coastline, its low, rolling mountains, and its heavily forested interior—as well as for its seafood cuisine, especially lobsters and clams.
The original inhabitants of the territory that is now Maine were Algonquian-speaking peoples. The first European settlement in Maine was in 1604 on Saint Croix Island, by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. The first English settlement in Maine, the short-lived Popham Colony, was established by the Plymouth Company in 1607. A number of English settlements were established along the coast of Maine in the 1620s, although the rugged climate, deprivations, and conflict with the local peoples wiped out many of them over the years. As Maine entered the 18th century, only a half dozen European settlements still survived. Patriot and British forces contended for Maine’s territory during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Maine was an exclave of Massachusetts until 1820, when as a result of the growing population and a political deal regarding slavery, it became the 23rd state on March 15 under the Missouri Compromise.
Maine is the only U.S. state which borders exactly one other state.
Silly Joke
Judy: I got a prize in school.Mom: What for?
Judy: The teacher asked the class how many claws a Maine lobster has. And I said three.
Mom: But all lobsters only have two claws.
Judy: Yes, but I was the closest to the right answer!
Theme Elements
The title bar image was taken by Eidolon at Portland Head Lighthouse. If it looks familiar, you might have seen it used in the January 2008 letterboxing calendar. =)
The images in the two bottom corners were taken during my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2003. The right-side image was taken from a viewpoint in the 100-Mile Wilderness, one of the most scenic areas of the entire Appalachian Trail, while the left-side image was taken in Baxter State Park two days before I would summit the highest point in Maine: Mount Katahdin. Which also marks the end of the Appalachian Trail. Not visible in this photo is a moose that was in a pond a quarter-mile before this photo was taken. Amazing creatures, those moose! Apparently, however, hunters find them easy targets. One hunter I met said shooting a moose was like shooting at a parked car.
Here are a few more photos from that hike:
Members
Now, time for a quick shout out to everyone on Atlas Quest from this state!
Letterboxing Cities
And, here are all of the cities in Maine we’ve hit with letterboxes!