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Northern New England: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont

inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It ranges from about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 64 km) wide, with the widest part occurring in the north. The land is mostly flat and at or near sea level in elevation. In the south, the shoreline features sandy beaches. Rocky beach- es, coves, and inlets overlooked by cliffs are found to the north. Inland the Coastal Lowlands contain many salt marshes and tidal creeks . West and north of the Coastal Lowlands is the Eastern New England Upland region. This band of territory, ranging from approximately 20 to 50 miles (32 to 81 km) wide, runs north- east through the center of the state. In northern Maine, it curves westward like a breaking wave. Low-lying land in the eastern part of the uplands region gives way to rolling hills and, in places, mountain ridges. Elevations approach 2,000 feet (610 m) in some areas. A broad, flat area called the Aroostook Plateau covers the north- eastern part of Maine’s uplands. The plateau generally has elevations between 800 and 1,000 feet (244 and 305 m). It contains some of Maine’s

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most fertile soil and is a center of agri- culture. Throughout the uplands, small lakes, rivers, and streams are abundant. Maine’s Appalachian Mountain region covers the western part of the state. Ranges include the White Mountains, which extend into Maine from New Hampshire, and the Blue Mountains. More than a dozen peaks rise above 4,000 feet (1,219 m). The highest, Mount Katahdin, is 5,268 feet (1,606 m) above sea level. It’s the centerpiece of Baxter State Park, located in north-central Maine’s Piscataquis County. Mainers refer to the coastal region from Penobscot Bay to the border with Canada as “Down East.” That may seem odd, given that the region repre- sents the northern—or upper—half of Maine’s coast. But the term Down East originated with sailors. To reach Maine, ships sailing out of Boston trav- eled downwind and eastward.