The region abuts New Brunswick , Canada to the northeast . South and east of the region , just offshore , is a narrow band of islands , and then the Gulf of Maine , Bay of Fundy and the wide open Atlantic Ocean .
To the west and southwest are smaller cities and larger towns , traditionally bustling tourism hubs and dense service centers , connected to the rest of the nation by US Route 1 and Interstate 95 .
The region is bookended to the west by Fort Knox National Historic Site , to the south by Acadia National Park , to the east by Roosevelt-Campobello International Park , and to the north by the St . Croix Island International Historic Site .
Naming the NHA
Naming the National Heritage Area occurred through a combination of public discussion , working group discussions , and several voting sessions . Name suggestions conjured descriptions of physical place , elements of the “ personality ” or essence of the place , and aspects of the heritage story . A number of options were offered for a vote – of those options , public feedback and final votes revealed these preferred choices :
• Downeast Maine NHA – 15 votes
• First Light NHA – 5 votes
• Wild Downeast NHA – 4 votes
• Downeast Waters NHA – 3 votes
• Dawnland Waters NHA - 1 votes
• A different variation of these – 3 votes
Much discussion ensued about the name “ Downeast NHA .” Differences of opinion about what is the “ real Downeast ” have occurred for generations . The term “ Downeast ” has been used to describe the entire coast of Maine . But people from Washington and Hancock Counties have long assumed the term Downeast as an aspect of their unique cultural identity based around the historic maritime heritage and continued economic dependence on marine resources .
Many feel the term is overused and even “ adulterated ” by those outside of Washington and Hancock Counties . Maine ’ s largest monthly magazine , which often focuses on upscale living in southern and mid-coast Maine , is titled Down East Magazine . Amtrak named its passenger train service between Boston and Brunswick , Maine the Downeaster .
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