Discover the Charm: Top 16 Amazing Fun Facts About Maine You Never Knew!
1. Eartha: The World's Largest Globe
In a world where size truly does matter, there's one titan of cartography that reigns supreme: Eartha, the world's largest rotating and revolving globe! Located in Yarmouth, Maine, this behemoth boasts a 41-foot diameter, weighs a whopping 2.8 tons, and resides in the DeLorme headquarters, just a hop, skip, and a jump north of Portland. This massive model of Mother Earth holds a 1:1,000,000 scale and rotates and revolves with such precision that a millimeter on its surface equates to a kilometer on our actual home planet. Zooming through 18 minutes for every full rotation and revolution, Eartha serves as a breathtaking sight to behold, leaving admirers spinning in awe.
Source => vroomvroomvroom.com
2. Tiny Blueberries, Big Flavor
Blueberries sing the blues in Maine as they grow wild and tiny, like the prized offspring of smurfs and grapes, showing off their petitie frame and a lip-smacking flavor that puts their store-bought siblings to shame: The lowbush blueberries, native to Maine's acidic soil, are significantly smaller than highbush blueberries, possessing a sweeter and more intense taste that makes them a local favorite for both snacking and baking scrumptious blueberry pies.
Source => krebscreek.com
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3. Moxie: Maine's Official Soft Drink
When life gives you gentian root, make Moxie: Maine's official state soft drink, developed in 1884 by Dr. Augustin Thompson, originally marketed as a medicinal "Moxie Nerve Food" - all while garnering a cult following and inspiring an annual festival in Lisbon Falls, with a Moxie Museum housed in Union.
Source => maine.gov
4. Maine's Never-ending Coastline
If you combined "Pirates of the Caribbean" with "Finding Nemo," you might end up vacationing in Maine: Maine boasts over 5,000 miles of coastline and 3,166 off-shore islands, giving it the longest coastline of any US state.
Source => visitmaine.net
5. Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain
Ahoy there, mateys! Get ready to swap your lobster claws for hiking boots while visiting Maine's treasured gem: Acadia National Park was the first national park established east of the Mississippi River, covering almost 50,000 acres of land with over 150 lakes, 400 miles of rivers and streams, and hundreds of trails for adventurous souls. Arise before the rooster's crow, and witness a magical sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain that rivals any other bounty in these northeastern lands!
Source => terramoroutdoorresort.com
6. Maine's Kelp Crusaders
Ahoy, seaweed pirates! Prepare to set sail for the coast of Maine, where the brave kelp crusaders are plundering the ocean's depths to uncover its hidden treasures: Maine's booming kelp industry is not only providing fishermen with additional income through the harvest of thousands of pounds of sugar kelp each season, but also contributing to the fight against climate change. This aquatic goldmine is useful in culinary dishes, cosmetics, and as a carbon-absorbing champion, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the state's food industry.
Source => csmonitor.com
7. Home of the Majestic Moose
If you've ever dreamed of having a moose-crossing party in your backyard, Maine is the place to be: Home to the largest moose population in the lower 48 states, there are an estimated 60-70,000 of these majestic mammals roaming the wilds, making it a top hunting destination as 50,000 hunters vie for 2,000-3,000 moose permits issued annually.
Source => maine.gov
8. Tackling the Appalachian Trail in Maine
If finding your way through Mahoosuc Notch doesn't get you knotty, perhaps Maine's 100 miles of wilderness will add a twist to your tale: Maine boasts the most formidable section of the Appalachian Trail, spanning 281 miles including the infamous Mahoosuc Notch - the toughest mile of the trail. Dotted with breathtaking views of mountains, rivers, forests, and ponds, Maine's AT provides both thrilling and scenic day hikes or full-on six-month thru-hike adventures.
Source => mainelakesandmountains.com
9. Maine's Haunting State Ballad
In the land of lobsters and lighthouses, where Stephen King crafts his spine-chilling tales, a new haunting melody has swept the state: The Ghost of Paul Revere band's "The Ballad of the 20th Maine" was declared Maine's official state ballad in 2019 by Governor Janet Mills, commemorating the 20th Maine Regiment's pivotal role in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War, taking center stage amidst the Hall of Flags for the signing ceremony.
Source => maine.gov
10. Acadia National Park: Selfie Wonderland
Where moose and bald eagles roam free with shades on, taking selfies on mountaintops and sharing them with their forest pals: Maine is home to Acadia National Park, the first national park to be established east of the Mississippi River, covering over 47,000 acres of breathtaking coastal scenery and lush wildlife habitats.
Source => reddit.com
11. Riveting Lobster Tales
In a riveting lobster tale filled with dory adventures and pot-pursuits as enthralling as any modern-day seafood saga: Maine lobstermen in the 1800s fished from oar-powered dories, catching an average of seven lobsters per pot that weighed four-to-six pounds each, leading to the invention of lathe pots, fueling the canning industry, and eventually resulting in Maine's first conservation law in 1872 banning the sale of egg-bearing female lobsters.
Source => maine-lylobster.com
12. Baxter State Park: A Wildlife Party
Maine's Baxter State Park is where Bambi, Baloo, and Bagheera have their secret rendevous and trust us, it's a wild party: This park is home to over 40 species of mammals and countless birds in its 200,000 picturesque acres, including Katahdin, the state's highest peak!
Source => en.wikipedia.org
13. Maine vs California: Battle of the Coastlines
Whoever said size doesn't matter clearly never compared coastlines: Maine's tidal shoreline, at 3,478 miles, actually outshines California's 3,427 miles. This stems from Maine's unique shape, featuring barrier islands, intercoastal waterways, and bays formed by ancient glaciers, whereas Cali's 840-mile general coastline is longer, but with less of that curvy tidally-goodness.
Source => sports.yahoo.com
14. First Sunrise in the US
Eager to beat everyone else to a sunrise view like a die-hard Black Friday shopper camping outside a store at 2 am? You'll love this place: Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is not only the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard of the United States at 1530 feet, but it's also the first location in the country to see the sunrise from October to early March!
Source => nps.gov
15. Stephen King's Terrifying Maine
In Stephen King's Maine, even the rats are trained actors, and Mount Hope Cemetery has a terrifying resume: Many iconic Maine locations have served as inspiration and filming sites for King's spine-chilling stories, from Runaround Pond in Durham being featured in "The Body" and "The Dead Zone," to an allegedly rat-infested Bangor Waterworks building housing the "Graveyard Shift." The character Carrie's name was even sparked by King's gravestone sightings at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Source => thrillist.com
16. The Great Clam Economy
Feeling a bit clammy? It's no wonder Maine-iacs get their hands dirty for the holy grail of bivalves: Maine's soft-shell clam fishery not only employs over 1500 harvesters but also rakes in a whopping $67.5 million in total economic benefit, securing its position as the state's second most valuable fishery behind lobster in 2019.
Source => seagrant.umaine.edu
