United States, Middle Atlantic

Connecticut

Connecticut is 110 miles long and 70 miles wide. With only 5,544 square miles, it is one of the smallest of the American states. The highest point in Connecticut is Mount Frissell (2,380 feet), located in the extreme northwest corner of the state in the Berkshire Hills. Connecticut is bounded on its western boundary by New York. Rhode Island separates it from the Atlantic. To the north lies Massachusetts, with the Long Island Sound on the south.

Connecticut has five different land regions: The Taconic Section, the Western New England Upland region, the Connecticut Valley Lowland, the Eastern New England Upland and the Coastal Lowland. The Coastal Lowlands are a section of the New England Coastal Lowlands that cover the coast of New England. In Connecticut they are a narrow strip of land that is only 6 to 16 miles wide. The area is found along the southern shore beside Long Island Sound. The area has low ridges, beaches, some swampy areas, and harbors and its shoreline is 618 miles. Most of Connecticut's population lives in the Coastal Lowlands. The two major exceptions are the cities of Hartford and Waterbury.

The Eastern New England Upland area covers most of eastern Connecticut. The area is the southern end of the same land formation that extends through New England to Maine. It is a heavily forested area with many rivers, valleys, and low hills. It is a fertile region where farmers grow tobacco, corn, potatoes, oats, blueberries, and wheat. Poultry farming is also an important agricultural activity.

The Connecticut Valley Lowland runs through the center of Connecticut and is on average only 30 miles wide. The area is distinguished by basalt lava ridges and low hills. The Connecticut River is wide as it flows through the area on its way from Massachusetts to the sea. There are many small rivers that are tributaries and the area is fertile. Farmers raise potatoes, vegetables, corn, strawberries, blueberries, and other fruits. Grass is plentiful, contributing to dairy farming.

The Western New England Upland covers the western third of Connecticut and stretches into Massachusetts and Vermont. It rises from 1,000 [Page 1836]feet to 1,400 feet above sea level and slopes down from the northwest to the southeast. It is a hilly region with many rivers and favorable conditions for the raising of beef cattle and for dairy farms. Crops grown in the area include corn, berries, and vegetables harvested as truck crops especially for urban markets such as New York City and Boston. The Taconic section of Connecticut is a small loop in the northwestern corner of the state. It lies between the Housatonic River and the New York border and extends north into Massachusetts.

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