Acadia National Park

by Nic Cheviron 2003

Like the rest of the U.S. National Parks, Acadia National Park has a uniqueness and beauty that is truly remarkable. The park is situated on Mount Desert Island. The park is known for its many diverse habitats and this allows for an abundance of wildlife and plant life.

Figure 1. Acadia red fox, one of many species of wildlife in the park.

Acadia became the first national park established east of the Mississippi. Located on the coast of Maine, Acadia encompasses 47,633 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. Nearly 3 million people a year visit Acadia National Park, making it the 2nd most popular among the national parks. This park has excellent views and pristine habitats to enjoy. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the scenic vistas at Bar Harbor, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and many other places within Acadia National Park. They visit for reasons listed above but the park also has a lot more to offer besides views.

Figure 2. Map showing location of Acadia National Park in Maine.

Figure 3. Map showing location of Mt. Desert Island and Acadia National Park.

Hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and canoeing are just some of the many activities that are people enjoy in the park. These activities along with many others make Acadia a great place for relaxing or recreation. Besides recreation, Acadia can be used for scientific purposes such as, studying the geology of the area.
There are two main categories represented in Acadia’s geology. These categories are composed of a large portion of Devonian aged granites. Most of the granites were formed from the Acadian Orogeny, which was the collision between North American and Europe. The other category would be Quaternary glacial deposits. A complete description of Acadia’s geology, along with a lithostratagraphic column of the park, can be viewed in Word or PDF format.

Figure 4. Photo of Red Granite Beach near Hunter's Brook Beach in Acadia National Park.

Figure 5. Photo from mountain peak overlooking a pond in Acadia National Park.

Overall, Acadia National Park is one of the few places left on this planet that could be considered pure. It gives someone the chance to look back into the way the land used to be. I believe that is one of the most incredible aspects about these national parks, to be able to view the land in a pure state without buildings, and concrete surrounding it. Acadia National Park is a place of unmatched beauty and solitude.

References

Gilman, Richard A., and Chapman, Carleton A., Bedrock Geology of Mount Desert Island. Maine Geological Survey, Department of Conservation, 1988.
Lowell, Thomas V., and Borns, Harold W., Jr., Surficial Geology of Mount Desert. Maine Geological Survey Department of Conservation, 1988.
Park, Steve. www.acadia.net last updated on February 19, 2003., Viewed on April 16, 2003.
Uhler, John William. www.acadia.national-park.com last updated on January 31, 2003., Viewed on April 19, 2003.
www.areaparks.com last updated on March 1, 2003., Viewed on April 18, 2003.
www.nps.gov/acad/home.htm last updated on March 1, 2003., Viewed on April 16, 2003.