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John Cabot and his son, Sebastian, are believed
to have visited the Maine coast in 1498. However, the first
permanent English settlements were not established until more
than a century later, in 1623.
The first naval action of the Revolutionary War occurred in 1775
when colonials captured the British sloop Margaretta off Machias
on the Maine coast. In that same year, the British burned
Falmouth (now Portland).
Long governed by Massachusetts, Maine became the 23rd state as
part of the Missouri Compromise in 1820.
Maine produces 98% of the nation's low-bush blueberries. Farm
income is also derived from apples, potatoes, dairy products,
and vegetables, with poultry and eggs the largest selling items.
The state is one of the world's largest pulp-paper producers.
With almost 89% of its area forested, Maine turns out wood
products from boats to toothpicks. Maine also leads the world in
the production of the familiar flat tins of sardines, producing
more than 75 million of them annually. In 2001, Maine lobstermen
landed nearly 48 million pounds of lobster, compared with an
estimated 53 million pounds in 2000.
A scenic seacoast, beaches, lakes, mountains, and resorts make
Maine a popular vacationland. There are more than 2,500 lakes
and 5,000 streams, plus 26 state parks to attract hunters,
fishermen, skiers, and campers.
Major points of interest are Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park,
Allagash National Wilderness Waterway, the Wadsworth-Longfellow
House in Portland, Roosevelt Campobello International Park, and
the St. Croix Island National Monument. |
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