Maine is a state rich in history. Thirteen years before the Pilgrims arrived at Massachusetts, the English established a colony in an area that is now part of the state. However, a severe winter forced most of the settlers back to England in 1608. Augusta, Maine's capital, was built where Pilgrims set up a trading post in 1628. The state was part of Massachusetts for about 200 years before it entered the Union as the 23rd state. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of the greatest American poets, was born in Portland, Maine's largest city.

Maine's name comes from an ancient French province of the same name. Also, early explorers called the region "The Main," a shortened form of the word "mainland," to distinguish it from nearby islands. The abbreviation for Maine is ME.

Maine is the northernmost and largest New England state. It is the only state bordered on three sides by Canada. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the north and east. It is also bordered by New Hampshire to the southwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. Eastport, Maine, is the easternmost city in the United States. The state has the fewest people per square mile of land of any state east of the Mississippi River.

Forests cover 90 percent of Maine's land -- that's the highest percentage of any state. See spruce, fir, birch, and white pines in Maine's commercial forests. In fact, Maine is nicknamed the "Pine Tree State" because of its beautiful white pine forests. The pine is used as a symbol in the state's seal, flag, flower, and tree. Forest related industries, including paper, pulp, wood, and toothpicks, are the most important part of Maine's economy.

Water, including lakes, rivers, the Atlantic Ocean, islands, inlets, and harbors, also makes up part of Maine's landscape. The power of the state's rivers and waterfalls is used to provide electricity to its industries. Industry makes up an important part of Maine's economy. Commercial fishing is important to the state; more lobsters are caught in Maine than in any other state.


Water, including lakes, rivers, the Atlantic Ocean, islands, inlets, and harbors, also makes up part of Maine's landscape. The power of the state's rivers and waterfalls is used to provide electricity to its industries. Industry makes up an important part of Maine's economy. Commercial fishing is important to the state; more lobsters are caught in Maine than in any other state.

Maine is famous for its rugged coastline. Go there and see lighthouses, sandy beaches, fishing villages, and thousands of offshore islands. In fact, Maine's beautiful landscape, famous for its unchanged scenery and opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating, and skiing, has made recreation an important industry.

Maine is not rich in farmland. However, the state is world famous for its potatoes. Around 2 billion pounds of potatoes are grown in Maine each year, making it a leading potato-growing state. This has made farming important in the state.


Maine has a beautiful landscape of forests, water, and rugged coastline. If you want to see all of these things, visit Arcadia National Park, located mainly on Mt. Desert Island. It is the only national park in New England. Go there and see a beautiful combination of mountains, lakes, forests, and rugged shoreline.