Geography of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island Kelly Hall Beth Reimer

Maine Coastline length: Coastline length: 367 km (228 mi) 367 km (228 mi) Shoreline length: 5,597 km (3,478 mi) Shoreline length: 5,597 km (3,478 mi)

Geography of Coastline Mount Desert Island Penobscot Bay

Character of shoreline Rugged rocky shoreline, some sandy beaches, natural harbors, >1,300 rocky islands Rugged rocky shoreline, some sandy beaches, natural harbors, >1,300 rocky islands Largest island: Mount Desert Island Largest island: Mount Desert Island –Impt. Islands: Vinalhaven Island, Islesboro, Swans Island, Deer Island, Isle au Haut, Monhegan Island Largest Harbor: Portland Largest Harbor: Portland –Impt. Harbors: Boothbay, Rockland, Bar, Eastport

Major Rivers/Estuaries Penobscot River flows East/South to Penebscot Bay Penobscot River flows East/South to Penebscot Bay Kennebec River flows South to Atlantic Kennebec River flows South to Atlantic Androscoggin River flows South to join Kennebec River Androscoggin River flows South to join Kennebec River Kennebec River

Character of Coastal Region Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, trading center Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, trading center Wildlife: many sea birds, saltwater fish & shellfish – lobster Wildlife: many sea birds, saltwater fish & shellfish – lobster Geology: exposed bedrock, glacial terrain and soils Geology: exposed bedrock, glacial terrain and soils Climate: humid – moderate summers/long winters Climate: humid – moderate summers/long winters –24 F – 80 F –40 in. precip.

Tidal Range

Development of Shoreline Coastal Population: 885, 703 Coastal Population: 885, 703 U.S. rank: 21 st of 35 U.S. rank: 21 st of 35

New Hampshire Coastline length: Coastline length: 21 km (13 mi) Shoreline length: Shoreline length: 211 km (131 mi)

Geography of Coastline Piscataqua River Inlet

Character of Shoreline Rocky shores, sandy dunes, some sandy beaches, few islands Rocky shores, sandy dunes, some sandy beaches, few islands Isles of Shoals – 10 mi SE of Portsmouth Isles of Shoals – 10 mi SE of Portsmouth Largest inlet: harbor at Portsmouth Largest inlet: harbor at Portsmouth

Major Rivers/Estuaries Piscataqua River forms natural harbor at Portsmouth Piscataqua River forms natural harbor at Portsmouth

Character of Coastal Region Industries: tourism, fishing, shipping Industries: tourism, fishing, shipping Wildlife: bald eagles, ospreys Wildlife: bald eagles, ospreys Geology: granite, glacial terrain and soils Geology: granite, glacial terrain and soils Climate: humid – short summers/long winters Climate: humid – short summers/long winters –26 F – 70 F –40 in. precip.

Development of Shoreline Coastal Population: 350,078 Coastal Population: 350,078 U.S. rank: 29 th of 35 U.S. rank: 29 th of 35

Connecticut Shoreline length: 995 km (618 mi)

Geography of Coastline New Haven Harbor Housatonic River Thames River Connecticut River

Character of Shoreline Rocky inlets, many sandy beaches, stretches of tidal marshes, few small islands Rocky inlets, many sandy beaches, stretches of tidal marshes, few small islands Several good natural harbors, coves Several good natural harbors, coves Most impt. Harbor – New Haven Most impt. Harbor – New Haven

Major Rivers/Estuaries Connecticut River flows S to Long Island Sound Connecticut River flows S to Long Island Sound Housatonic River flows SE to Sound Housatonic River flows SE to Sound Thames River – very long tidal estuary Thames River – very long tidal estuary

Character of Coastal Region Industries: shellfish, tourism, marine commerce, defense-related manufacturing Wildlife: Atlantic Salmon, piping pover Climate: Long hot summers, cold winters 30 F – 72 F 50 in. precip.

Tidal Range

Development of Shoreline Coastal population: 2,030,017 Coastal population: 2,030,017 U.S. rank: 16 th of 35 U.S. rank: 16 th of 35

Massachusetts Coastline length: Coastline length: 309 km (192 mi) 309 km (192 mi) Shoreline length: Shoreline length: 2,445 km (1,519 mi) 2,445 km (1,519 mi)

Geography of Coastline Merrimack River Charles River

Character of Shoreline NE coast: jagged, forested, coves/bays NE coast: jagged, forested, coves/bays Mid. Atlantic coast: sandy beaches, grassy dunes, marshes Mid. Atlantic coast: sandy beaches, grassy dunes, marshes Impt. Islands: Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Elizabeth Island Impt. Islands: Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Elizabeth Island Largest bays: Mass. Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay Largest bays: Mass. Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay Largest harbors: Boston, New Bedford, Salem, Gloucester, Plymouth Largest harbors: Boston, New Bedford, Salem, Gloucester, Plymouth

Major Rivers/Estuaries Charles River flows to Boston Bay, joins w/ Mystic River Charles River flows to Boston Bay, joins w/ Mystic River Merrimack River flows to Atlantic at Newburyport Merrimack River flows to Atlantic at Newburyport

Character of Coastal Region Industries: tourism, fishing, shipping, aquaculture Industries: tourism, fishing, shipping, aquaculture Wildlife: Whales Wildlife: Whales Geology: edge of glacial extent, glacial terrrain and soils Geology: edge of glacial extent, glacial terrrain and soils Climate: humid – long hot summers, cold winters Climate: humid – long hot summers, cold winters –32 F – 90s F –46 in. precip.

Tidal Range

Development of Shoreline Coastal population: 4,494,398 Coastal population: 4,494,398 U.S. rank: 7 th of 35 U.S. rank: 7 th of 35

Rhode Island Coastline length: Coastline length: 64 km (40 mi) 64 km (40 mi) Shoreline length: Shoreline length: 618 km (364 mi) 618 km (364 mi)

Geography of Coastline Narrangasett Bay Prudence Island

Character of Shoreline Inlets, islands in Bay, shallow lagoons, salt marshes, long sandy barrier beaches, rocky haedlands w/ sandy beaches Inlets, islands in Bay, shallow lagoons, salt marshes, long sandy barrier beaches, rocky haedlands w/ sandy beaches Narragansett Bay extends 26 mi inland Narragansett Bay extends 26 mi inland –Impt. Islands: Block Island, Rhode, Connecticut, Prudence –30 smaller islands

Major Rivers/Estuaries Northern R.I. drained by river systems flowing to Narragansett Bay Northern R.I. drained by river systems flowing to Narragansett Bay South drains to Atlantic South drains to Atlantic

Character of Coastal Region Industries: Tourism Industries: Tourism Wildlife: piping plover Wildlife: piping plover Climate: humid Climate: humid –30 F – 80s F –46 in. precip.

Tidal Range

Development of Shoreline Coastal population: 685,478 Coastal population: 685,478 U.S. rank: 20 th of 35 U.S. rank: 20 th of 35

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