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Significance of the park:1
Established as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 and renamed to Lafayette National Park in 1919 and Acadia National Park in 1929, it became the first national park east of the Mississippi River. The park preserves more than 45,000 acres on Mount Desert Island, on Schoodic Peninsula, and more than a dozen other islands off Maine's mid-coast. The park contains 26 peaks shaped by glaciers, leading the explorer Samuel Champlain to name Mount Desert the "Island of Barren Mountains." In addition to granite-topped peaks, the park protects rocky headlands, meadows, bogs, and freshwater lakes. A mix of boreal and deciduous forests provides habitat for more than 2,000 species. In several places, the park borders the only fjord in the contiguous 48 states, Somes Sound.
What you can see:
The 1,530-foot Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the Atlantic shore, rises from the sea and offers scenic views of Frenchman Bay. The open summit provides a perfect vantage point to see the ocean engulfing the outer islands' rugged shores. Twenty percent of the park is wetlands, creating a premier birding spot along the Atlantic flyway. Visitors can see everything from peregrine falcons to black guillemots as well as white-tailed deer, river otters, and harbor seals.
What you can do:
Acadia sustains about 2.5- to 3 million visits each year. The park offers 130 miles of trails for hiking and walking. The ocean and freshwater lakes provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, whale watching, birding, and even sea cliff climbing at Otter Cliffs and Great Head. The park contains 44 miles of motor-free carriage roads ideal for walking, biking, and equestrian activities in warmer months, and cross-country skiing in the winter. To get around the park, visitors can take advantage of the propane-powered Island Explorer shuttle bus.
Summer Visibility: Fifth Haziest Park
No significant change 1991-2003
Average Summer Views from 1999-2003: 54.1 miles
Natural Visibility 79 to 117 miles2
A visitor to Acadia may be surprised to find a grayish wall of haze instead of clear views from mountain peaks. Nearly all of the pollution affecting the park comes from sources located outside of its boundaries and even several states away. Sulfate particles formed mostly from power plant pollution are responsible for more than half of the park's haze.3
Check the real-time views from McFarland Hill in Acadia by visiting the following webcam: hazecam.net/acadia.html
Unhealthy Smog: Third Smoggiest Park
Getting worse 1991-2003
32 unhealthful days 1999-20034
In April 2004, EPA formally designated Acadia National Park as an ozone nonattainment area, with levels of ozone pollution that threaten human health.
Many trees and plants in the park are affected by ozone, including black cherry, quaking aspen, white ash, and jack pine. Studies show a correlation between ozone exposure and decreased growth rates in eastern white pine, the official tree of Maine and a dominant species in the park.5
Acid Precipitation: Fourth Most Acidic
No significant change 1991-2003
The park's rocky soils provide little protection against the nitrogen and sulfur pollution that falls on the park as precipitation. On average, this precipitation is between the acidity of black coffee and tomato juice.6 The park's headwater streams also are affected, and at least one high elevation lake, Sargent Mountain Pond, experiences chronic problems.7 In addition, fog hanging over Acadia's coniferous forests can often be more acidic than snow or rain falling in the park.8
Solutions
Enforce and strengthen our clean air laws. EPA must deliver a strong, effective, and enforceable park haze rule to clean up some of the largest outdated power plants and industries with inadequate pollution controls.
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