Coastal Erosion in Maine

Provided by: Joel McCabe
Summary author: Rob Jones

The above aerial photo was taken from a powered-parachute near Eastport, Maine -- the eastern-most U.S. port on the Atlantic Ocean. The picturesque summer cottage was built in the 1880s. Although the dwelling and peninsula that it's situated upon survived with little change from the 1880s through the 1960s, the past three decades have brought extensive erosion to the peninsula. While this has primarily been due to rising sea levels, coastal areas in this portion of Maine are known to be subsiding. This photo shows the peninsula after extensive erosion control work was completed. The grove of trees, which includes mugo pines (pinus mugo), also helps stem erosion.

Related Links:

• USGS: Coasts in Crisis
• What is shoreline erosion?
• Maine's Coastal Marine Geology
• Maine Geologic Facts and Localities: Shackford Head State Park, Eastport, Maine

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