The US state of Maine has hundreds of mountain ranges, glacial lakes, rivers and streams. Mount Katahdin is the highest point in the state.
Geographical Facts About Maine
| Area | 35,387 square miles |
| Land Area | 30,865 square miles |
| Water Area | 4,523 square miles |
| Mean Elevation | 180 meters |
| Highest Point | Mount Katahdin (1,606 meters) |
| Lowest Point | Atlantic Ocean |
| Geographic Center | Piscataquis County |
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick on the north; by the Atlantic Ocean on the southeast and south; and by New Hampshire and Quebec on the west. Piscataquis County is the geographic center of the state.
The state can be divided into three geographic land areas :
-
Coastal Lowlands :
The region starts at the Atlantic Ocean and extends ten to forty miles inland. This area comprises flat, sandy beaches in the south and small sandy beaches in the north. The western part of the Coastal Lowlands is distinguished by salt marshes and tidal creeks.
-
Eastern New England Uplands :
The area lying to the northwest of the Coastal Lowlands is known as the Eastern New England Uplands. The region is about twenty to fifty miles wide and stretches from Canada south to Connecticut. In the northern portion of the New England Uplands lies the Aroostook Plateau. This area has fertile soil and is famous for Maine Potato crops. The area south of the Aroostook Plateau consists of lakes and fast streams.
-
White Mountains :
Covering the northwestern part of the state, the White Mountains are an extension of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The highest point of Maine, Mount Katahdin, is found in this region.
Climate of Maine
The US state of Maine has a humid continental climate with generally warm and humid summers, and cold and snowy winters. The coastal areas have a moderate climate due to the proximity with the Atlantic Ocean. The highest temperature recorded in the state is 41 °C; it was registered on July 10, 1911 at North Bridgton. The lowest temperature in Maine is -48°C, recorded on January 19, 1925 at Van Buren.
Unlike the other states in the country, Maine is generally safe from hurricanes, tornadoes and tropical storms. The hurricanes/storms become extra-tropical by the time they reach the state.
Mountains
There are about 2,589 mountain peaks in Maine. Mount Katahdin is the highest mountain range followed by the summits of Sugarloaf, Old Speck, and the Crocker Mountain.
The other major mountains in state include :
|
|
Rivers
Maine has more than 5,000 rivers. The longest river in the state is St. John River.
The other principal rivers are:
|
|
Lakes
Maine has around 2,200 lakes and ponds. The largest lakes in the state are Moosehead Lake, and Sebago Lake.
The other major lakes in the state are:
|
|