Geography of Maine New Hampshire Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode

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

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

Geography of Coastline Mount Desert Island Penobscot Bay

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

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

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

Tidal Range

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

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

Geography of Coastline Piscataqua River Inlet

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

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

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

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

Connecticut Shoreline length: 995 km (618 mi)

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

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

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

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 n U. S. rank: 16 th of 35 n

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

Geography of Coastline Merrimack River Charles River

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

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

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

Tidal Range

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

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

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 n Narragansett Bay extends 26 mi inland – Impt. Islands: Block Island, Rhode, Connecticut, Prudence – 30 smaller islands n

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

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

Tidal Range

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

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