Acadia National Park - Info & Imagery

 

New England feels...this is what the great 17th & 18th century poets and writers engraved in stone and ink saw in their worlds

Acadia National Park. Nestled in the crook of Acadia, Maine, established in 1917, and known for its sweater vibes and autumnal beauty seemingly year round, this national park is known for its stunning scenery above all else. Wintery mountains, teeming forests, and pink granite shorelines are sights to behold on their own. But as the eastern-most National Park in the US, Acadia is also the first National Park to greet dawn every day. Imagine...the light spilling up over ocean salt breeze, pouring over the trees and rocks and sea. A striking world illuminated from the inside out. 

Some of these places just don't seem real sometimes. But they are, and besides having great lighting for a Instagram photo shoot, the National Parks' beauty and meaning and history means something to us. These parks, surreal little worlds that offer more than escape, are within our nation, US borders and ideals—American glory that belongs to us and is shared with the world. 

Acadia is more than just looks. This park boasts hiking trails up 26 peaks, including the tallest on the eastern coast, long walks on the beach (64 miles to be exact), parts of 16 islands, and over 1000 species of flora and fauna. Although this park is primarily located on Mount Desert Island, it's land and story stretch much farther than that. 

Over 12,000 years of culture, history, and life shaped this park into what it is today. The history of Acadia National Park is centered around the Wabanaki people, who have grown with Acadia since pretty much we started keeping track of history. Over the process of the creation of Acadia National Park, America has designated it multiple names, including Sieur du Monts and Lafayette. But I think Acadia still has that special ring to it. An echo of our memories of warmth and color and coziness in the autumnal days leading up to winter magic and holidays. 

To keep the magic of Acadia, we also have to recognize the risks that National Parks face. These are protected lands, but some aspects can't be protected. In particular, there are numerous threatened species in Acadia, especially bats, birds of prey and plant species. These flora and fauna are hit the hardest by climate change, air pollution...and literally people's shoes as they may trample over endangered plant life. But it's something special still to be part of such a glorious ecosystem, some kind of magical world I've painted on paper with printed poetry that toes the line with prose. 

So, if you visit Acadia National Park, take in all the beauty, and try your best to not stomp all over it. 

This has been the start to the National Parks exploration series.

https://www.citrusmilo.com/acadiaguide/