Maine North Woods
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The Maine North Woods is the northern geographic area of the state of Maine.
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[edit] Location
The Maine North Woods is a region of over 3.5 million acres (14,000 km²) of top quality commercial forest land. Much of the woods is currently owned by the Seven Islands, Plum Creek, Maibec, International Paper and Irving timber corporations. Ownership changes hands quite frequently, and is often difficult to determine. It's main products are timber for pulp and lumber, as well as a thriving hunting and outdoor recreation economy. Included within its boundaries are two of the most famous wild rivers of the Northeastern United States- the St. John and the Allagash. The North Maine Woods completely surrounds the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
[edit] Wildlife
The Maine North Woods is predominantly forestland consisting of mixed northern hardwoods and conifers, much of it artificially planted after harvesting by the various landowners. The major tree species are Sugar Maple, American Beech, Balsam Fir, Quaking Aspen, Northern White-Cedar, Red Spruce, White Spruce, Black Spruce, Yellow Birch, Paper Birch,and Eastern White Pine. The area is also home to Moose, Coyotes, Beaver, Ruffed Grouse, white-tailed deer, and Black bears. There are official hunting seasons for the Grouse, Deer and Bear, with a state-run lottery system for awarding Moose hunting licences. The Maine North Woods is also home to the endangered Canada Lynx, Bald Eagle and the Furbish Lousewort, a rare plant that is only found in the St. John river valley.
[edit] Proposed US National Park of The Maine North Woods
Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, and other well renowned supporters of Americans for a Maine Woods National Park, an interest group that also includes scientists, educators, and environmentalists like Jane Goodall and Edward O. Wilson. The committee was founded by RESTORE: The North Woods, a conservation organization that's spearheading a protection plan for an enormous swath of woodlands in the U.S. East.
The proposed national park would encompass 3.2 million acres (13,000 km²), an area larger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined. The woods in question hold a special place in American history.
As of May 2006, no specific action had been taken by the Congress on this action.
[edit] See also
- Aroostook War
- Aroostook County, Maine
- Saint John Plantation, Maine
- Conservation movement
- Vegetation of New England
[edit] External links
State of Maine Augusta (capital) |
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