Maine at a Glance

Maine is on the Move

With snowy mountains, whitewater rapids and forests galore, a trip to Maine will have you on the move.

From skiing down Saddleback Mountain to whitewater rafting along the Penobscot River, a trip to Maine will have you on the move. Maine’s dense forests and coastal plains lend its landscapes splendor while its New England roots give it charm.

Find out more about Maine at DiscoverAmerica.com.

Capital: Augusta

Population: More than 1.3 million people live in Maine.

Geography: Part of the New England region of the United States, Maine is bordered by Canadian provinces Quebec and New Brunswick to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south and New Hampshire to the west. This geography affords Maine three distinctions: it is the northernmost state in the contiguous United States; it is the easternmost U.S. state; and it is the only state to have exactly one U.S. neighbor (New Hampshire). The largest state in New England, Maine comprises coastal lowlands, central farmlands and mountains.

Higher Education: The University of Maine in Orono, Maine, is the state’s flagship institution of higher learning. Established in 1865, it is the only research university in Maine and offers 90 undergraduate degrees, more than 70 master’s degrees and 30 doctoral degrees. Located in Lewiston, Maine, Bates College is a highly ranked liberal arts school. Bates was one of the first colleges in the United States to admit both men and women from the time of its establishment. Another highly ranked liberal arts school in Maine is Bowdoin College. Founded in 1794, this private school offers more than 30 majors and counts writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow among its alumni.

Major Industries: Though fishing was once the primary industry of Maine, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism have diversified the state’s economy. Maine’s top agricultural outputs include dairy products, potatoes and blueberries. Producing 98 percent of the United States’ wild blueberries, Maine is the top blueberry exporter. Paper products such as cardboard boxes and pulp top the Pine Tree State’s manufacturing outputs. Other goods include electronic equipment and ships.

Famous Mainers include actors Patrick Dempsey and Anna Kendrick; board game entrepreneur Milton Bradley; writers Stephen King, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Edna St. Vincent Millay; television producer David E. Kelley; and U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller.

Pop Culture: With bestselling author Stephen King hailing from the Pine Tree State, it comes as no surprise that many of his works are set in Maine. Film adaptations including The Dead Zone, Graveyard Shift and Needful Things are all set in the coastal state. Camping is popular there, too. The summer camp movie Wet Hot American Summer takes place in Maine, as do the camp scenes in the 1998 version of The Parent Trap featuring Lindsay Lohan.

Culinary Specialties: Given its position along the Atlantic Ocean, Maine’s reputation for plump, juicy lobster is not shocking. Try a lobster roll — lumps of lobster meat mixed with mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery and scallions nestled in a toasted hot dog bun. If you are hankering for something sweet, dig into some blueberry pie or bite into a whoopie pie, which is something akin to a cake sandwich with a sweet, fluffy filling.

International connection: Maine’s largest city, Portland, shares sister city status with Arkhangelsk, Russia; Cap-Haïtien, Haiti; Mytilene, Greece; and Shinagawa, Japan.

Fun facts:

• The observatory on Maine's Penobscot Narrows Bridge is the world’s tallest bridge observatory.

• Uncle Tom's Cabin, a book that helped fuel the U.S. Civil War and end slavery, was partially penned at Bowdoin College.

• Maine is the home of Moxie, the first mass-produced soft drink in the United States.

Adventure idea: With three big rivers and a rugged landscape, Maine is the perfect place to try your hand at whitewater rafting. Ride through the wild rapids with an expert guide, and enjoy a riverside meal and some scenic views along the way.