Maine's forests are largely softwoods, chiefly red and white spruces, balsam fir (Abies balsamea), eastern hemlock, and white and red pine. Important hardwoods include beech, yellow and white birches, sugar and red maples, white oak, black willow, black and white ashes, and American elm, which has fallen victim in recent years to Dutch elm disease.
Maine is home to most of the flowers and shrubs common to the north temperate zone, including an important commercial resource, the low-bush blueberry. Maine has 17 rare orchid species, of which one is considered threatened. Two species, the small whorled pogonia and the eastern prairie fringed orchid, were classified as threatened as of 2003; the furbish lousewart was classified as endangered that year.
About 30,000 white-tailed deer are killed by hunters in Maine each year, but the herd does not appear to diminish. Moose hunting was banned in Maine in 1935; however, in 1980, 700 moose-hunting permits were issued for a six-day season, and moose hunting has continued despite attempts by some residents to ban the practice. Other common forest animals include the bobcat, beaver, muskrat, river otter, mink, fisher, raccoon, red fox, and snowshoe hare.
The woodchuck is a conspicuous inhabitant of pastures, meadows, cornfields, and vegetable gardens. Seals, porpoises, and occasionally finback whales are found in coastal waters, along with virtually every variety of North Atlantic fish and shellfish, including the famous Maine lobster.
Coastal waterfowl include the osprey, herring and great black-backed gulls, great and double-crested cormorants, and various duck species. Matinicus Rock, a small uninhabited island about 20 miles off the coast near the entrance to Penobscot Bay, is the only known North American nesting site of the common puffin, or sea parrot.
Eleven Maine animal species were classified as threatened or endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2003, including the bald eagle, piping plover, Atlantic Gulf of Maine salmon, two species of whale, and leatherback sea turtle.
The Maine State House in Augusta, is the state capitol of the State of Maine. The building was completed in 1832, one year after Augusta became the capital of Maine. Built using Maine granite, the State House was based on the design of the Massachusetts State House (Maine was formerly part of Massachusetts, and became a separate state in 1820). The State House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, for its importance in the history of the state, and for its architecture.
The governor, who serves a four-year term and is limited to two consecutive terms, is the only official elected statewide. (Rules of succession dictate that should the governor become incapacitated, he or she would be succeeded by the president of the state senate.) A gubernatorial veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting in each legislative chamber. An unsigned bill that is not vetoed becomes law after 10 days when the legislature is in session. The governor must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the US for at least 15 years, and a state resident for five years.
To vote in Maine, one must be a US citizen and at least 18 years old; there is no minimum residency requirement. Those under guardianship because of mental illness may not vote.
Few states have claim to as many iconic images as Maine. Think of that northern New England state, and immediately springing to mind are fully rigged Windjammers, waves breaking against a rocky coast, fishing harbors filled with colorful boats, lighthouses, and tall pine trees. The miles and miles of backwoods inhabited by moose hold their own mystique, conjuring images of a lone canoe barely riffling the mirror-like surface of a forest-encircled lake, or rainbow trout jumping from crystal waters.
The remarkable thing about Maine is that it doesn't disappoint visitors who arrive with these romantic images in mind. Lighthouses do crown points from York to Quoddy Head, and between them lie dozens of snug little fishing harbors and mile after mile of rocky wave-beaten shore. Windjammers weave between the fir-clad islands just offshore, and bright-painted lobster buoys bob in the water, with lobster boats scuttling between them to haul traps. But Maine's attractions aren't all in iconic images, and between its museums, breathtaking gardens, art heritage, historic attractions, outdoor activities, and natural wonders.
Cape Neddick Lighthouse Lighthouse
Lighthouses in Maine - Lighthouses in the state of Maine as identified by the United States Coast Guard. There are fifty-seven active lights in the state, two of which are maintained as private aids; nine are standing but inactive, and three have been destroyed, one of which has been replaced by a skeleton tower. This includes two stations which originally featured twin towers; in both cases both towers survive but only one of each pair is active.
The park features Northern New England’s only wooden roller coaster, Excalibur, as well as New England's longest and tallest log flume, Thunder Falls. There is also has a 220-foot-tall Drop Tower called Dragon's Descent. One of the park's most popular rides is the Astrosphere, which is an indoor Scrambler which features a state-of-the-art laser and light show while playing ELO's Fire on High. The Splashtown segment features Pirate's Paradise, a large interactive waterpark playground which dumps hundreds of gallons of water onto its guests every few minutes. For the 2007 season, an expansion was built that doubled the size of the waterpark and added two new thrill slides, Tornado and Mammoth. An additional expansion in 2012 added another 6 thrill slides to Splashtown.
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats with high biodiversity, clean air and water, and a rich cultural heritage. Each year, more than 3.3 million people explore seven peaks above 1,000 feet, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads with 16 stone bridges.
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Mount Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have attracted humans for millennia.
For many years, Franklin D. Roosevelt summered on Campobello Island. As an adult, he shared with his family the same active pursuits he enjoyed on the island as child. Although he visited less frequently after contracting polio, Campobello remained important to FDR. Today Roosevelt Campobello International Park serves as a memorial to FDR and a symbol of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada.
The winter of 1604-1605 on Saint Croix Island was a cruel one for Pierre Dugua's French expedition. Iced in by freezing temperatures and cut off from fresh water and game, 35 of 79 men died. As spring arrived and native people traded game for bread, the health of those remaining improved. Although the expedition moved on by summer, the beginning of French presence in North America had begun.
Sports
Maine is known for a lot of things, although sports isn’t all that high on the list. That being said, there are plenty of sports teams Portland Maine residents can enjoy if they know exactly where to look, including some quality minor league play.
The Portland Sea Dogs – Minor League Baseball
Portland isn’t going to be left out of America’s official pastime of baseball! The Portland Sea Dogs are an AA minor league baseball team that currently belong to the Boston Red Sox farm system. They have been a mainstay of Portland since 1984 and played in the Eastern League. The team plays April through September, and even managed to win the Eastern League championship in 2006. Plenty of major league players have passed through the Portland Sea Dogs at one point or another, and this can be a great way to see future Major League Baseball talent before they get there.
The state has an income tax structure with two brackets, 6.5% to 7.95% of personal income. Prior to July 2013 The tax structure consisted of four brackets: 2%, 4.5%, 7%, and 8.5%. The general sales tax rate is 5.5%. There is also charges of 9% on lodging and prepared food plus 10% on short-term auto rentals
Transportation
Aviation
Maine Airports.
There are 68 public airports in Maine. Maine Airports aspire to be world-class in their services and amenities. The airports in Maine are state of the art.
There are three international airports in Maine. They are the Bangor International Airport in Bangor, the Portland International Jetport in Portland and the Houlton International Airport in Houlton.
Bangor International Airport
Port of Maine
> Bangor International Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in Maine. The airport has more than sixty flights per day. The airport is handicapped friendly and has TDD phones in its terminals. There are shops, ATMs, restaurants, porter services, lockers and helpful staff who willingly provide assistance to those in need.
The Portland International Jetport has all the facilities necessary to make traveling as easy and comfortable as possible. The airport is handicapped accessible, has a newspaper and souvenir shop, ATMs, a restaurant and a business center.
Ports
Historically, Maine ports played a key role in national transportation. Beginning around 1880, Portland's rail link and ice-free port made it Canada's principal winter port, until the aggressive development of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the mid-1900s. In 2013, 12,039,600 short tons passed into and out of Portland by sea, which places it 45th of US water ports
Rail
The Downeaster passenger train, operated by Amtrak, provides passenger service between Brunswick and Boston's North Station, with stops in Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Wells. The Downeaster makes five daily trips, three of which go to Brunswick past Portland.
Freight service in the state is provided by a handful of regional and shortline carriers: Pan Am Railways (formerly known as Guilford Rail System), which operates the former Boston & Maine and Maine Central railroads; St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad; Maine Eastern Railroad; Central Maine and Quebec Railway; and New Brunswick Southern Railway.
Roads
Interstate 95 (I-95) travels through Maine, as well as its easterly branch I-295 and spurs 195, 395 and the unsigned I-495. In addition, U.S. Route 1 (US 1) starts in Fort Kent and travels to Florida. The eastern terminus of the eastern section of US 2 starts in Houlton, near the New Brunswick, Canada border to Rouses Point, New York, at US 11. US 2A connects Old Town and Orono, primarily serving the University of Maine campus. US 201 and US 202 flow through the state. US 2, Maine State Route 6 (Route 6), and Route 9 are often used by truckers and other motorists of the Maritime Provinces en route to other destinations in the United States or as a short cut to Central Canada.
Maine Housing
The median home value in Maine is $228,400. Maine home values have gone up 8.6% over the past year and predictions are they will rise 9.1% within the next year. The median list price per square foot in Maine is $160. The median price of homes currently listed in Maine is $239,900. The median rent price in Maine is $1,800.
Maine is divided into 16 counties and contains 488 incorporated municipalities consisting of cities, towns, and plantations. Portland is the largest city in Maine with a population of 66,700, while Eastport is the smallest city with a population of just 1,272. Maine Cities and Towns
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Every year families and individuals, old and young alike move to Maine to take advantage of the state's advantages safe cities and towns, excellent schools, friendly communities, and recreational prospects from the mountains to the ocean.
Your new home in Maine might be a roomy apartment, a Victorian house that's been restored in a tranquil seaside settlement, revitalized mill or the home of your dreams featuring a huge yard for your pets and children to play in.
You can choose living in a rural spot and commute to work in a nearby commercial center, or just settle in a place you can bicycle or walk to a job, and be nearer to performing arts, restaurants, local attractions and opportunities.
Annually Maine is ranked as being one of the healthiest top 10 states in the nation. Land preserves and public trails, with access to lakes and rivers makes for easy enjoyment of Main's outdoors. The hospitals in the state are recognized for both their specialized and general care, while elderly people opt to spend their years of retirement in Maine with its quality enjoyment of life, along with the places afforded by vibrant communities and historic districts.
Climate
Maine has a humid continental climate, with warm (although typically not hot), humid summers. Winters are cold and snowy through the entire state, and are especially severe in the northern parts. Coastal areas are moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in milder winters and cooler summers along the immediate coastal areas. Daytime highs are generally in the 75–80 °F range all through the state during July, with overnight lows in the high 50s °F. January temperatures range from highs near 32 °F along the southern coast to overnight lows averaging below 0 °F in the far north.
maine Colleges. There are thirty colleges in Maine. These institutions of higher learning include the University of Maine, the state's oldest, largest and only research university. UMaine was founded in 1865 and is the only country in Grant and Sea Grant College in the country. The University of Maine is located in the city of Orono and is the flagship of Maine. There are also branches in Augusta, Farmington, Fort Kent, Machias and Presque Isle
Economy
In 2016, The largest industry in Maine was the category of finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, representing almost 21% of the total and accounted for 1.2% of real growth. The second largest segment was government (and related enterprises) representing 14%, and experienced a decline of .06%.
The largest contributor to real DGP growth in 2017 was educational services, health care and social assistance, which accounted for .30% of the total growth in real GDP.
While declining, Maine is still a leading producer of paper and wood products, which are the most valuable of all manufactures in the state.
Arcadia National Park
Author Gambit MG