History of Maine
In 1604, the French initially settled here, but
they met Indians already living here, including the
Mikmaq. In 1607 the first British came via the Plymouth
Company, from 1630 the Massachusetts Bay
Colony forced the settlement and the first
sawmill in North America was built in 1634 in
Piscataqua. At that time there were all kinds of
conflicts, both between the British and the French
and between individual Indian tribes.
For a long time, Maine was part
of Massachusetts (though not bordering on it) and
was only allowed to join as a separate U.S. state on
March 15, 1820, after the Missouri compromise was
found, relatively late.
Maine is politically relatively liberal today,
but does not support the Democratic Party as clearly
as other New England states. The voting behavior
here has been quite changeable in the past.
Maine: climate and weather
The climate in southern Maine and on the coast is
more moderate than inland. Summers are generally
warm and winters are cool to very cold and
snowy. Unlike many other U.S. states, natural
disasters are rare here. Every now and then,
hurricane foothills move across Maine.
National park hikes, lighthouses and white water
rafting
Maine is a natural paradise. Both the attractive
rocky coast, the sandy beaches and the cozy fishing
villages invite you to linger.
The idyllic lighthouses that decorate
the landscape in the coastal region are well
known. Around 60 of these lighthouses are still in
operation and are still important for shipping
today. Sunrises and sunsets are a special experience
here.
However, exciting white water rafting and
other water sports are possible on the rivers in
Maine, and fishing enthusiasts will also get their
money's worth.
Maine whale watching tours are
also available and provide a great opportunity to
learn more about the ocean and its importance to the
state. In addition to whales, you can also discover
other marine mammals such as seals and sea birds.
Not only the tasty lobster, but also other
culinary delights such as fresh cake with wild
blueberries or the delicious moxie lemonade offer
four places to feast. The largest bridge observatory
in the world can be found at the 646 m long Penobscott
Narrows Bridge, but Maine is best
known for the rugged Acadia National
Park with all its lakes, mountains and an
impressive rocky coast.
It is not without reason that this is one of the
most visited national parks in the USA. Numerous
islands belong to this national park, the largest
part is on Mount Desert Island, which is
connected to the mainland by a short dam. Also worth
seeing is the old fishing harbor Bar Harbor,
where the entrance to the national park is located.
You have a beautiful panoramic view from Cadillac
Mountain (505 m), from where you can be
one of the first in the USA to see the sunrise. Also
worth seeing is the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on
Mount Desert Island.
With so much nature, the region's interesting
cities could be neglected. A visit to Augusta
is worthwhile because of the Maine State
House, the State Museum and
the Pine Tree State Arboretum.
Portland, the largest city in the state,
is not only known for its lighthouse, the Portland
Head Light, but also for its old port and
as the seat of numerous banks and insurance
companies.
The city is accessible via an international
airport and is known for two sports clubs, the
Portland Pirates (ice hockey) and the Maine Red
Claws (basketball), of which you should definitely
watch a game. The tallest building in the city and
the whole of Maine (!) Are the Franklin
Towers at just 62 m.
The McLellan-Sweat Mansion from
1800 and the historic Fort Gorges are also
worth seeing. You can also visit the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conecption and the Farmers
Market. Art lovers should take a look at the Portland
Museum of Art. |
