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Quoddy Head State Park: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 44°48′47″N 66°57′45″W / 44.81306°N 66.96250°W / 44.81306; -66.96250
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{{Short description|State park in Washington County, Maine}}
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[[Image:Quoddy.jpg|thumb|right|Quoddy Head State Park Lighthouse]]'''Quoddy Head State Park''' is a [[park]] located four miles off [[Maine Route]] 189 in [[Lubec]], [[Maine]] on the easternmost point of land in the [[United States]]. On its 532 acres (2.2 km²), purchased by the state in [[1962]], the park features 4.5 miles (7 km) of hiking trails, extensive forests, two bogs, diverse habitat for rare plants, and the striking, red-and-white striped lighthouse tower of West Quoddy Head Light.
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Quoddy Head State Park
| photo = West Quoddy Head Light.jpg
| photo_caption = West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and Quoddy Narrows, with [[Grand Manan Island]], Canada, visible in the background
| map = USA Maine
| map_size = 280
| map_caption = Location in Maine
| relief = 1
| location = [[Lubec, Maine]], [[United States]]
| coordinates = {{coord|44|48|47|N|66|57|45|W|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = <ref name=gnis/>
| area_acre = 541
| area_ref = <ref name=dacf2/>
| elevation = {{convert|148|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|578209|West Quoddy Head}}</ref>
| designation =
| established = 1962<ref name=dacf/>
| named_for =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| visitation_ref =
| administrator = Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
| website = [http://www.maine.gov/quoddyhead Quoddy Head State Park]
| embedded =
}}


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'''Quoddy Head State Park''' is a public recreation area in [[Lubec]], [[Maine]], located on the easternmost point of land in the continental [[United States]]. On its {{convert|541|acre}}, purchased by the state in 1962, the [[state park]] features {{convert|5|mi|0}} of hiking trails, extensive forests, two bogs, diverse habitat for rare plants, and the striking, red-and-white striped lighthouse tower of [[West Quoddy Head Light]].<ref name=dacf/>
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In [[1808]], West Quoddy Head Light became the easternmost [[lighthouse]] in the United States. Its light and fog cannon warned mariners of Quoddy's dangerous cliffs, ledges, and Sail Rock. Among the first to use a fog bell and later a steam-powered [[foghorn]], this lighthouse greatly reduced shipwrecks in this foggy area, even as shipping increased. In [[1858]], the present red-and-white tower replaced the original. Monitored and serviced by the [[United States Coast Guard]], its light still shines through its original third-order Fresnel lens. After automation in [[1988]], the light station became part of adjacent Quoddy Head State Park. The tower is closed, but visitors are welcome to enjoy the lighthouse grounds and explore the [[Visitor Center]] and [[Museum]] run by the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association.


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In 1808, West Quoddy Head Light became the easternmost [[lighthouse]] in the United States. Its light and fog cannon warned mariners of Quoddy's dangerous cliffs, ledges, and Sail Rock. Among the first to use a fog bell and later a steam-powered [[foghorn]], this lighthouse greatly reduced shipwrecks in this foggy area, even as shipping increased. In 1858, the present red-and-white tower replaced the original. Monitored and serviced by the [[United States Coast Guard]], its light still shines through its original third-order [[Fresnel lens]]. After automation in 1988, the light station became part of adjacent Quoddy Head State Park. A [[visitor center]] and museum in the former light keeper's quarters are run by the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association.<ref name=keepers/> The tower is closed to visitors.
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== External links ==
* [http://www.westquoddy.com/ West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association]


For a few weeks around the [[equinox]]es, West Quoddy Head is the first location in the United States to see the sunrise.<ref>{{cite peakbagger|pid=6820|name=Katahdin, Maine|access-date=October 16, 2010}} Analysis by Blanton C. Wiggin, published in the January 1972 issue of ''[[Yankee Magazine]]''.</ref> Quoddy Head State Park is also the closest geographic point in the United States to the African continent.<ref name=closest/>
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[[Category:Maine state parks]]

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" >
File:Line2848 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|A foggy day on the rocky coast
File:Line2823 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|The light and keeper's house
File:West Quoddy Head Light - closeup.jpg|The light on a sunny day
File:Quoddy Head State Park - panoramio (1).jpg|Like much of Maine, the coast at Quoddy Head is rocky
West Quoddy Marker.jpg|Most Eastern Point in the USA marker
File:Quoddy Head Stairs.jpg|Staircase to the beach
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=dacf>{{cite web |url=http://www.maine.gov/quoddyhead |title=Quoddy Head State Park |publisher=Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry |access-date=July 26, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=dacf2>{{cite web |url=http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/camping/pdf/outdoorsmini.pdf |title=Outdoors in Maine: State Parks, Public Lands, and Historic Sites |publisher=Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry |date=September 2016 |access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref>

<ref name=keepers>{{cite web |url=https://www.westquoddy.com/the-lighthouse |title=West Quoddy Head Light History |publisher=West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association |access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref>

<ref name=closest>{{cite web |url=https://acscdg.com/usaafrica.html |title=The closest point in the United States to Africa |publisher=acscdg.com |access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref>
}}

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==External links==
{{stack|{{commons category|Quoddy Head State Park}}}}
*[https://www.maine.gov/quoddyhead Quoddy Head State Park] Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
*[http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/PDF_GUIDE/quoddyheadguide.pdf Quoddy Head State Park Guide & Map] Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

{{Protected areas of Maine}}

{{authority control}}

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[[Category:State parks of Maine]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Washington County, Maine]]
[[Category:Lubec, Maine]]

Latest revision as of 01:30, 3 August 2023

Quoddy Head State Park
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and Quoddy Narrows, with Grand Manan Island, Canada, visible in the background
Map showing the location of Quoddy Head State Park
Map showing the location of Quoddy Head State Park
Location in Maine
LocationLubec, Maine, United States
Coordinates44°48′47″N 66°57′45″W / 44.81306°N 66.96250°W / 44.81306; -66.96250[1]
Area541 acres (219 ha)[2]
Elevation148 ft (45 m)[1]
Established1962[3]
AdministratorMaine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
WebsiteQuoddy Head State Park

Quoddy Head State Park is a public recreation area in Lubec, Maine, located on the easternmost point of land in the continental United States. On its 541 acres (219 ha), purchased by the state in 1962, the state park features 5 miles (8 km) of hiking trails, extensive forests, two bogs, diverse habitat for rare plants, and the striking, red-and-white striped lighthouse tower of West Quoddy Head Light.[3]

In 1808, West Quoddy Head Light became the easternmost lighthouse in the United States. Its light and fog cannon warned mariners of Quoddy's dangerous cliffs, ledges, and Sail Rock. Among the first to use a fog bell and later a steam-powered foghorn, this lighthouse greatly reduced shipwrecks in this foggy area, even as shipping increased. In 1858, the present red-and-white tower replaced the original. Monitored and serviced by the United States Coast Guard, its light still shines through its original third-order Fresnel lens. After automation in 1988, the light station became part of adjacent Quoddy Head State Park. A visitor center and museum in the former light keeper's quarters are run by the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association.[4] The tower is closed to visitors.

For a few weeks around the equinoxes, West Quoddy Head is the first location in the United States to see the sunrise.[5] Quoddy Head State Park is also the closest geographic point in the United States to the African continent.[6]

[edit]
  • A foggy day on the rocky coast
    A foggy day on the rocky coast
  • The light and keeper's house
    The light and keeper's house
  • The light on a sunny day
    The light on a sunny day
  • Like much of Maine, the coast at Quoddy Head is rocky
    Like much of Maine, the coast at Quoddy Head is rocky
  • Most Eastern Point in the USA marker
    Most Eastern Point in the USA marker
  • Staircase to the beach
    Staircase to the beach

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "West Quoddy Head". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "Outdoors in Maine: State Parks, Public Lands, and Historic Sites" (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. September 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Quoddy Head State Park". Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  4. ^ "West Quoddy Head Light History". West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "Katahdin, Maine". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 16, 2010. Analysis by Blanton C. Wiggin, published in the January 1972 issue of Yankee Magazine.
  6. ^ "The closest point in the United States to Africa". acscdg.com. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
[edit]
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