Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park

First to See the Sun Acadia National Park is one of the first places in the United States to see the Sun rise. Look on a map and you'll understand why. Maine stretches farther east than any of the other forty-nine states. Acadia sits on Maine's eastern edge, facing out into the Atlantic Ocean. The park is less than 50, 000 acres (202 sq km). Compared to many national parks, that's small. Still, the bits and pieces that make up Acadia make for a beautiful park.

Land That Meets the Sea Today, Acadia is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. More than two million people visit each year. The park includes beautiful coastline, islands, forests, lakes, mountains, and rocks. It packs a lot of variety into a small space.

The largest part of Acadia National Park is on Mount Desert Island. More than twenty mountains rise from the sea here. At 1, 530 feet (466 m), Cadillac Mountain is the tallest. Because of its early sunrise and amazing view, it's also the most crowded.

Acadia has more than 40 miles (64 km) of coastline. Because Acadia's coast is young, sandy shores are rare. Waves shift around what sand there is, along with rocks and other material. During low tides, the ocean leaves behind pools of water. Inside these pools live sea stars, sea cucumbers, hot pink seaweed, and other living things.

Tide pools come and go-after all, they are created by tides, which also come and go. Acadia's tide can rise and fall 12 feet (4 m) during a day. It's best to visit tide pools when the tide is going out. You'll have more time to explore them.