Maine

Information and Tourism

Maine is the most northeasterly state in the US. It is a quintessentially New England state that is epitomized by mile upon mile of rocky coastline, complete with dozens of lighthouses, lots of quaint fishing villages and a myriad of islands. There is no shortage of decent scenery either. Maine's nickname is the Pine Tree State, which is very apt considering that roughly nine-tenths of land here is covered by forests. As the most sparsely populated state east of the Mississippi, there are relatively few people to share it with.

Maine exudes a rural charm and boasts a real sense of history, making it a popular tourist destination these days. The first English settlement in Maine was set up by the Plymouth Company in 1607. The Popham Colony, as it was known, didn't last long, and the colonists returned to England just over a year later. In 1641, the city of York was the first in the US to gain a charter.

Visitors regularly come to Maine to enjoy their favorite sport. With thousands of lakes and rivers populated by an abundance of landlocked salmon, trout and perch, Maine is a fisherman's favorite. Winter sports are big here too. The state has more than 25 ski areas, including the popular Sugarloaf, a leading ski resort based in western Maine.

Famous Maine residents include the writer Stephen King, the world's first women's Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson, and influential 19th-century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Maine Information and Fast Facts

• Country: USA
• Population: approximately 1.3 million
• Capital city: Augusta
• Biggest city: Portland
• Biggest urban area: Portland-South Portland-Biddeford Metropolitan Area
• Language: American English
• Area: 35,390 square miles / 91,650 square kilometers
• Area covered by forest: 17 million acres / 6.88 million hectares

	WORLD GUIDES TO MAINE
	World Guide to Augusta, ME, USA Rather on the small side for an actual state capital, Augusta, Maine, certainly offers an intimate experience and a good base for excursions, since it is within reach of golf courses, winter ski resorts and North Atlantic beaches.
	World Guide to Bar Harbor, ME, USA The town of Bar Harbor is sited on the northeasterly shore of Mount Desert Island. Every year roughly three million tourists head to Bar Harbor to enjoy its summer music festivals and recreational activities in the Acadia National Park.

Map of Maine