Maine: The Atlantic Coastline Champion and Its Capital, Augusta

When measuring coastline, the devil is in the details—and Maine wins by a landslide. Thanks to its famously convoluted, glacially carved "ria" coast—deep fjord-like estuaries, hundreds of islands, peninsulas, and coves—Maine boasts an Atlantic coastline of approximately 3,500 miles (5,600 km) (NOAA tidal shoreline measure). That's more than California's Pacific coast and exceeds the other 13 Atlantic states combined.

The Capital: Augusta

• Location: On the Kennebec River, 65 km (40 mi) inland from the coast.
• Population: ~19,000 (metro ~65,000)—one of the smallest state capitals.
• History: Trading post (Cushnoc) → Fort Western (1754) → State capital (1832, chosen for central location).
• Economy: Government, healthcare, light manufacturing, University of Maine at Augusta.

Why Maine's Coast is Unique

• Glacial Legacy: Ice sheets drowned river valleys, creating the "drowned coast" of peninsulas and islands (3,000+ islands).
• Tidal Range: Up to 6m (20 ft) in the Bay of Fundy influence zone—extreme intertidal zones.
• Working Waterfront: Lobstering, aquaculture, boatbuilding, shipping remain vital.
• Protection: Acadia National Park, 60+ land trusts, Maine Island Trail (water trail).

Maine's coastline isn't just long—it's a complex, productive, culturally rich ecosystem that defines the state's identity.