Samuel de Champlain apparently named it in 1604 from the French for “high island.” About half the island is incorporated into Acadia National Park. Isle au Haut is both a lobstering community and a retreat for seasonal cottage owners. It has also been home to author-fisherman Linda Greenlaw.
is the marker for dividing East Penobscot Bay from West Penobscot Bay. It includes North and South Islesboro connected by a narrow segment of land, See chart and photo. Seven Hundred Acre Island, Job Island. The 129 acres of forested Warren Island hosts a state park with a dock and moorings. Grindel Point Light Station in Gilkey Harbor on Islesboro was established in 1850.
The Dark-eyed Juncos are birds that live in Maine all year. Ground feeders, they are most often noticed in winter in small flocks under bird feeders. They especially like seeds that fall from the feeders. In summer they tend to stay in coniferous (pine, spruce) forests. The male is slate-gray with a white belly; the…
June 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1715 The new owner of the Pejepscot purchase petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for approval and support to create three new towns: Brunswick, Topsham,…
It was like sitting in a chimney and waiting for the smoke to blow away. It was, in fact, a cloud-factory,– these were the cloud-works, and the wind turned them off done from the cool, bare rocks. [Thoreau] Washington Irving described the Kaatskill Mountains as “a dismembered branch of the great Appalachian family…swelling up to…
The Pine Tree State Arboretum, Augusta. 200 acres of rolling hills and meadows, mature pine and hardwoods and open woodlands provide a rich variety of colors and a diversity of habitats. A pond and open field provide fine opportunities to observe birds of many shapes and sizes. According to its Guide, From 1840 to 1972,…
Windows on the River: Moosehead to Popham The Kennebec flows from Moosehead Lake through the West Outlet and the East Outlet, both of which empty into Indian Pond. The water passes through the ten miles of Indian Pond to join the Dead River at The Forks, thus forming the main body of this important river.…
[click photos to enlarge ] This “shorebird” was far from salt water in a rough open area in Stacyville, northern Penobscot County near Aroostook County. That was in late May 2012, a bit earlier than when Killdeer are normally expected to be in Maine for the summer breeding season. The changing climate may have…
The map at left is the 1922 USGS 15 Minute Series, Moosehead Lake, ME Quadrangle, Northwest Corner, from the University of New Hampshire Dimond Library. The Kineo Cottage Row Historic District is a collection of seven wood-framed cottages built in conjunction with the Kineo Resort complex between 1901 and 1912. They were designed in the…
The Brothers and Hay Ledge Preserve, St. George. These four islands off Port Clyde provide a 12 acre home to a number of nesting sea birds such as the black guillemot, common eider, double-crested cormorants and various gulls, which prefer the dense grasses and shrubs. As such, the preserve is closed during nesting season. Managed…
Pink Lady’s Slippers or Moccasin Flowers An interesting article by Kyhl Lyndgaard opens with the following: One year before the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830, Almira Lincoln Phelps published the first edition of her Familiar Lectures of Botany. Phelps wrote that “the Orchis tribe” are “opposing all attempts at civilization, [and] are…
The following are the locations and sizes of Maine’s twenty largest lakes. Historical ice out dates for Maine Lakes are one measure of the impact climate change in the state. See more details for Maine’s sixty largest lakes. Name Town County Acres Sq.mi. Moosehead Greenville Piscataquis 74,890 117.02 Sebago Sebago Cumberland 28,771 44.95 Chesuncook T5…
The largest lakes in Maine, those over ten acres in area, are defined as “great ponds.” The following are details about the sixty largest. In the table below “drain” refers to the total drainage that leads water to the lake. “Major Drainage” refers to the river or stream contributing directly into the lake. Secondary drainage…
Lasell is a private island in Penobscot Bay off shore in Knox County, near North Haven Island. It has long curving beaches with stunning views of the Bay. The small building is also private.
Latitude Maine, while sometimes appearing to be the northernmost of the 48 contiguous states, actually ranks sixth after Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Latitude measures the vertical distance, in degrees, north and south from the Earth’s equator, which is at 0 degrees. The North Pole is at 90 degrees north. Maine is just…
Great Salt Bay from the Mills Road in Newcastle (2004) Preserves owned and managed by Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Bass Rock Preserve, Round Pond. 12 acres look out on Muscongus Sound. There are no trails. Park on Back Shore Road. Damariscove Island, Boothbay. This National Historic Landmark (Maine’s earliest permanent settlement) is 209…
A bird somewhat harder to find than the Great Blue Heron, the Little Blue Heron ranges from the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast to their northern most reach in Maine. They feed in marshes, tidal flats and even in some freshwater areas, nesting near wetlands. This one was observed in Winslow Park…
Once bearing the name Hog Island, Little Diamond has overcome its past and has been a respectable community of the City of Portland for decades. Few people make it their year-round home, even though there are 50+ homes and cottages on the Island. A major reason is that the City turns off the water supply in…
may be found all over Maine in its lakes and ponds. In winter they move closer to the coast where they fish in the ocean and bays. Loons dive to great depths and swim long distances under water to avoid humans and predators. Some have been found tangled in nets 200 feet below the surface.…
Lower Enchanted Township may be accessed by the lower enchanted road off Route US 201 North of West Forks. The road leads to a hiking area and a majestic waterfall.