Category Archives: Maine Coast

Sandy Point Beach State Park

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life_in_maine_sandy_pointAt the northern end of Penobscot bay in Stockton Springs is a small small state park. This time of year, it is mostly inhabited by locals coming out for a stroll by themselves or with their dogs. Most people have a smile or greeting for strangers.

While maybe not the most exotic place in Maine, Sandy Point Beach has a long history going back to the paleolithic. The artifacts that most visitors see belong to the 20th century. These pilings are from an abandoned wharf of a fertilizer plant that closed in the 1970s. As you can see from the exposed seaweed clinging to the pilings, this is low tide. Click on the image for a larger view.

Sand Beach

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acadia_sand_beachSand Beach is one of the most popular destinations in Acadia National Park. While Maine has a long coastline, most of it is rocky. In late October, the area is populated by a few dozen people (in summer, when the water temperature is no warmer than 55°F/13°C, huge crowds come to swim). The outlet for Beehive Lagoon cuts through the beach next to Great Head. Otter Cliffs and Baker Island can be seen on the horizon. Click on the image for a larger view.

Coastal Forests

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acadia_coastal_forest_2The summit of Great Head in Acadia National Park is a testament of the resilience and diversity of life. Spruce/fir forests dominate the harsh coastal environment. Plants take any opportunity in every small patch of soil between the granite slabs. Late fall stratifies these colonists into a diverse palette of color. Click on the image for a larger view.

On Mt. Battie

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life_in_maine_on_mt_battieAt 800ft/250m, Mt. Battie in Camden Hills State Park is not a huge mountain. The area is mostly covered with mixed hardwood forests, but the ridges expose the plant life to harsh conditions. In areas with little soil, the flora appears to be more suited to alpine zones. And a rich mix of these plants cover the ground between slabs of granite. Click on the image for a larger view.

Camden & Penobscot Bay

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life_in_maine_camdenCamden is an affluent community on the coast of Penobscot bay—it is the quintessential New England village. Penobscot bay is a huge waterway that cuts deep into the Maine coast and defines the eastern edge of Central Maine. This image was taken from Mt. Battie in Camden Hills State Park, looking south towards the Gulf of Maine. Click on the image for a larger view.

Change

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acadia_little_hunters_coveThe view of the fading day from Little Hunters Beach. Acadia National Park is often described as a timeless, unchanging landscape. Perhaps on a human scale, but the land is changing. Every rainfall, every tide takes a little away. The winter ice splits rock. And the colonizing biology leaves its mark. Click on the image for a larger view.