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Article: Penobscot Region
- Article from:
- Dictionary of American History
- Author:
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PENOBSCOT REGION
PENOBSCOT REGION
is located on Maine's mid-coast and includes the Penobscot Bay and the Penobscot River, Maine's largest, as well as numerous islands, towns, and rivers. Vikings are thought to have visited the area in the tenth century, but there is no proof of this. Europeans first visited in the late 1400s and early 1500s, in search of a northwest passage to the Far East. After hearing of the abundant sea life, European fishermen followed. Despite the very cold winters, by the 1620s fishermen began to spend winters in the area, recognizing winter as the best season for fishing. They also discovered that the coastal areas were not nearly as harsh in winter as inland ...