Counties: 16
Land Area: 33,215 square miles
Length of Coastline: 3,500 miles
Lakes and Ponds: 6,000
Forest: 17 million acres
Persons per Square Mile: 41.3
Largest City: Portland
State Capitol: Augusta
Statehood: Became the 23rd State on March 15, 1820
State Song: "State of Maine Song"
words and music by Roger Vinton Snow
(Song to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy)
Grand State of Maine,
proudly we sing
To tell your glories to the land,
To shout your praises till the echoes ring.
Should fate unkind
send us to roam,
The scent of the fragrant pines,
the tang of the salty sea
Will call us home.
CHORUS:
Oh, Pine Tree State,
Your woods, fields and hills,
Your lakes, streams and rock bound coast
Will ever fill our hearts with thrills,
And tho' we seek far and wide
Our search will be in vain,
To find a fairer spot on earth
Than Maine! Maine! Maine!
Flower: White pine cone and tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus).
Adopted by the Legislature of 1895. The White pine is considered
to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States.
Leaves (needles) are soft, flexible and bluish-green to silver
green in color and are regularly arranged in bundles of five.
Needles are 2 1/2-5 inches long and are usually shed at the end
of the second growing season. Flowers (strobili) occur on the tree.
Cones are 4-8 inches in length, usually slightly curved.
Cone scales are thin and never have prickles. Cones also have
a fragrant gummy resin.
Bird:Chickadee (Parus atricapillus): Adopted by the Legislature of 1927. The Blacked-capped Chickadee is a common sight in the woods and at backyard bird feeders throughout the state. The brownish-black bill is short, straight and rounded. The Chickadee's glossy head is large with a short neck and dark brown eyes. Its body is thick. The feathers are blended and short. The tail is long, arched, and rounded, with twelve slender feathers. Feet and claws are greyish-blue. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck is pure black, as is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. The Chickadee is approximately 5 inches in length.
Maine's four seasons offer a healthy, invigorating environment
for the traveler. The state has one of the most comfortable summer
climates in the U.S. and is recognized as one of the most healthful
states in the nation, with summer daytime temperatures averaging
about 70F (21C) and occasionally hitting the 90s. (32C). Summer
nights are usually cool and comfortable. We do get to temperatures
around 100 once in a while - we have a few hot weeks in the summer.
In winter, temperatures average about 22F (-5.5C), but prolonged
cold spells are rare (but that's without the wind-chill factor
which can make it feel like it's 20 degrees below zero).
A link about weather in Maine is at http://www.state.me.us
/mema/weather/weather.htm if you would like to get the day's
weather information.
What is the Average Snowfall in Maine?
A total winter snowfall averages between 60 inches (152cm) and
90 inches (228cm), making the state very popular with skiers
and other winter sports enthusiasts.
