Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park
Cadillac Mountain is the center stone on the Acadia NP ring. It rises 1,530 above sea level making it the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. In the Fall and Winter of the year it is the first place the sun touches the US each morning. Where not exposed the pink granite is clothed in spruce and pine forest and small plants like wild blueberry and wild flowers.
The mountain was named for Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, a French explorer who was granted this area by the Governor of New France in 1688. He was also the founder of Detroit and the car was named for him. The name was changed from Green Mountain to Cadillac in 1918.
Saturday we drove to the top of the mountain, along the way we saw many bicyclist, runners and walkers challenging the climb. There are several overlooks along the route to stop and enjoy the view.
Eagle Lake as seen from Cadillac Mountian
Interesting rock formation. Notice the pink in the granite.
Another view of Eagle Lake
The top of the mountain is primarily sheets of pink granite with large boulders and clumps of wild flowers and sub alpine plants. The trees are gnarled and stunted. There is a path through the rocks but most visitors climb up and down the rock formations. The park rangers ask only that you not step on the plants. The views are magnificent. It is said on a clear day you can see all the way to Nova Scotia a distance of 100 miles.
Small plants with a few grasses grow at the top of the mountain
Interesting rock formation. There is a row of these block like rocks.
Notice the row of block like rocks in the center of the picture. Bar Harbor is on the left middle and the Porcupine Islands are the 5 just above Bar Harbor.
Panoramic view looking north
Panoramic view looking east
September 1st, 2014