US-2968666 West Quoddy Head Lighthouse

The West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is at West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine. This location is the easternmost point of the contiguous United States and the closest point to Europe from any point in the fifty States. West Quoddy Head overlooks Quoddy Narrows, a strait between Canada and the United States.

In 1808 the first lighthouse at West Quoddy Head was built to guide ships through the waterway. The current one, with distinctive red-and-white stripes, was built in 1858. It is  49 feet (15 m) high and features third order Fresnel lens.

This postcard came from Carlton (12 September 2014) Postcrossing.

 

 

Maine - the Pine Tree State

Maine is a state in the New England region of the north-eastern United States. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost portion of New England. It is known for its scenery—its jagged, mostly rocky coastline, its low, rolling mountains, its heavily forested interior, and picturesque waterways—as well as for its seafood cuisine, especially lobsters and clams.

Maine was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state in 1820. It is called the Pine Tree State because about 83% of its land is forested. In the postcard the cones of the White Pine is depicted as this is the State floral emblem.  Also depicted on the postcard is the Black Capped Chickadee, the State Bird.

The capital of Maine is Augusta and the largest city is Portland.

Maine has almost 230 miles (400 km) of coastline (and 3,500 miles (5,600 km) of tidal coastline). Along the famous rock-bound coast of Maine are lighthouses, beaches, fishing villages and thousands of offshore islands, including the Isles of Shoals, which straddle the New Hampshire border. There are jagged rocks and cliffs and many bays and inlets. Inland are lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains. This visual contrast of forested slopes sweeping down to the sea is quintessentially Maine.

This postcard was sent by Amy (18 August 2014) Postcrossing Direct Swap.