15 Wild Facts That Prove Maine Is A Geographic Outlier

Maine is an incredible state, with mountains, lakes, coastline, lots of forest, and more. When comparing it to the other 50 states in the U.S., Maine has some pretty unique geography, from a glacier desert to a coastline longer than California’s. Geography By Geoff took a look at 15 incredible geography facts about Maine that make the state stand out.

15 Geography Facts About Maine

1. Closest State to Africa – Maine’s Quoddy Head is the closest US point to Africa (3,154 miles to Morocco), not Florida.
2. More Coastline than California – Maine has 3,478 miles of tidal coastline versus California’s 3,427 miles due to its jagged, inlet-filled coast.
3. The Old Sow Whirlpool – Located in Passamaquoddy Bay, it’s the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere and second largest in the world.
4. The Most Forested State – Approximately 89% of Maine is forested, the highest percentage in the US.
5. A Glacial Desert – The “Desert of Maine” in Freeport is a 40-acre expanse of glacial silt exposed by poor farming practices.
6. Predating Plymouth Rock – French settlers arrived at St. Croix Island in 1604, 16 years before the Pilgrims landed.
7. The First Eastern National Park – Acadia, established in 1919, was the first national park east of the Mississippi River.
8. Born from Compromise – Maine became a state in 1820 through the Missouri Compromise as a free state to balance Missouri as a slave state.
9. The First Sawmill – America’s first water-powered sawmill was established in York in 1623.
10. The Aroostook War – An 1838 border dispute with British North America over timber resources, resolved peacefully in 1842.
11. The Only One-Syllable State – Maine is the only US state name with a single syllable.
12. The Lonely Border – Maine is the only state in the contiguous US that borders exactly one other state (New Hampshire).
13. The Empty Quarter – The North Maine Woods is the largest uninhabited area east of the Mississippi River.
14. America’s Sunrise – The state has the first sunrise in the US, rotating between Cadillac Mountain, Mars Hill, and West Quoddy Head depending on season.
15. The Blueberry Capital – Maine produces 99% of the US supply of wild blueberries.

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