Abbreviated as ME on abbreviationfinder.org, Maine is one of the states of the North American Confederation, the 38th for surface area (85,570 sq km), but the 33rd for absolute population (797,423 residents In 1930). It is the northernmost of the New England states and therefore on the Canadian border, which surrounds it from the northwest to east; the southern side corresponds to a stretch of the Atlantic coast where the Pleistocene glaciation left its typical footprints (fjords, bays, swarms of rocky islands, morainic arches, etc.) making it very complex (435 km. as the crow flies), but over 4000 taking into account the inlets), therefore well suited to shelters and equipped with excellent natural harbors (Baie di Casco, Damariscotta, Moscongus, Penobscot, Bluchill, Frenchman, Pleasant, Passamaquoddy), whose economic value increases due to the the fact that courses of navigable water in their lower stretch (Penobscot, St Croix, Piscataqua, Sheepscot, Kennebec, etc.). From the coastal region the edge of the plateau that forms the largest part of the state detaches with a sharp jump inwards: a fragment of the ancient archaic-paleozoic Laurentian mass, peneplant and then engraved by ice. The granite spur of the Saddleback mountains continues the alignment of the White Mountains, rising to 1585 meters in the Katahdin: the region is full of lakes, and these cover, together with the marshes of the coastal area, over 8% of the territory of the state. The whole northern part of Maine preserves, in its magnificent woods (conifers to the north; towards the south, also broad-leaved trees), the aspect that the whole of New England originally must have presented over very large spaces. At the limit between the plateau and the coastal strip, the rivers precipitate in waterfalls (Androscoggin, Penobscot), which have allowed the production of copious hydroelectric energy, and thus transformed, with the industries that have come to life, the economy originally mainly forestry-fishing vessels in the region. The climate is typically continental, with long winters and considerable changes in temperature; conditions that do not radically change even on the coasts (Eastport: average annual temperature: 5 °, 1; January: -60.6; July: 15 °, 4; rain: 1100 mm. per year). originally mainly forestry-fishing economy of the region. The climate is typically continental, with long winters and considerable changes in temperature; conditions that do not radically change even on the coasts (Eastport: average annual temperature: 5 °, 1; January: -60.6; July: 15 °, 4; rain: 1100 mm. per year). originally mainly forestry-fishing economy of the region. The climate is typically continental, with long winters and considerable changes in temperature; conditions that do not radically change even on the coasts (Eastport: average annual temperature: 5 °, 1; January: -60.6; July: 15 °, 4; rain: 1100 mm. per year).
56% of the surface is covered with woods (which contain, especially in north, precious essences, not only for timber, but also for pasta); crops are reduced to just 1/5 of the surface. Oats, corn, wheat and potatoes are the main products; for potatoes, Maine is at the head of all the states of the Union. The breeding is flourishing; more than that of the sheep (82 thousand heads), which originally formed one of the bases of the economy (wool), that of the cattle is now considerable (368 thousand heads, of which 135 thousand dairy cows). Fishing (especially oysters and shellfish) also deserves special mention for its importance.
Of the industries (1557 factories with 70 thousand workers in 1931) the most developed are those of wood: pulp and paper (129 million dollars of production in 1931); followed by the leather, textile (especially wool), food and metallurgical industries.
History
Visited several times already in the century. XVI, Maine had its first colony only in 1604, thanks to the French expedition of P. de Monts, who founded a fort there at the mouth of the Saint Croix river: a fort abandoned, however, already the following year. Equally short-lived were the colony founded by the English at Salino Point, in 1607, the one established in 1609 by Jesuit missionaries and fishermen, and the English one in 1623: so that the first stable colony took place only in 1625-26. The “province of Maine”, which however included only the territory between the Merrimac and Kennebec rivers, had been ceded by the Council of New England to Ferdinand Gorges and John Mason, who then, in 1629, divided the territory. Maine was therefore a “proprietary colony”, so much so that the Gorges in 1631 had the title of Lord Palatine of Maine, and, for his province, a charter similar to that granted to Maryland. Except that after a few years the colony of Maine was absorbed by the nearby and powerful colony of Massachusetts, which, despite the protests of the Maine owners, managed to have its claims legitimized by the king, in 1677. Since then, the history of Maine is confused. with that of Massachusetts, of which it constituted the most advanced sector towards the French plants in Canada and therefore the most threatened.
Maine returned to constitute an entity in its own right only in 1819-1820, when, separated from Massachusetts, it was admitted to join the Union as a separate state (March 3, 1820). For a long time, however, the disputes with the neighboring English possessions continued over border issues.
The internal political life of the state was characterized, in the first period, up to about 1857, by an almost continuous dominance of the democratic party; from 1857 onwards, on the other hand, the predominance of the republican party was clear.
Augusta
According to countryaah.com, Augusta is a city of the USA (18,367 residents In 2007), and capital of Maine, on the Kennebec River, which here ceases to be navigable. Already a commercial center in the century. 17 °, it was then the seat of a fort (Fort Wester, 1754) where settlers flowed (1762) and around which the urban agglomeration developed, above all in function of the river port activities. Woodworking industries, cotton mills, shoe factories. Airport.
Portland
City and port of the USA (62,825 residents In 2007), in Maine, of which it is the most populous center. It lies on the Atlantic coast, in Casco Bay, on a peninsula at the mouth of the Fore River. Founded in 1632, but damaged several times by Indians (1676), French (1690) and English (1775), it was the capital of the state (1820-32).
