Mars Hill (Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mars Hill |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,748 ft (533 m) |
| Prominence | 1,210 ft (370 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mars Hill
Location in Maine
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| Topo map | USGS Mars Hill |
Mars Hill is a special mountain in Mars Hill, Maine. It even gave the town its name! This mountain is very important to the local community. From its top, you can see the beautiful Saint John Valley. You can also spot Mount Katahdin, which is over 85 miles (135 km) away.
Mars Hill is also home to a fun ski area. It is called Big Rock Ski Area. Because of its height and location in the Northeast, Mars Hill is unique. For almost half the year, it is the first place in the main United States to see the sun rise. This happens from March 25 to September 18. On July 4, 1960, a special event took place. The first 50-star flag to see the sun in the U.S. was raised here. Fifty national guardsmen honored it with a 50-gun salute.
Powering Up with Wind Energy
Mars Hill is also known for its large wind power project. This project cost about $85 million. It was built in the fall of 2006. A company called First Wind installed 28 huge wind turbines. These turbines are along the top and northern parts of the mountain.
How Wind Turbines Work
Each turbine uses wind to make electricity. They are very powerful, each making 1.5 megawatts of energy. A megawatt is a million watts! Together, these turbines produce about 130 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year. That is enough to power many homes!
Building the Giant Turbines
The wind turbines are built from many parts. The main tower is made of three sections stacked together. It weighs about 20,000 pounds. The tower stands 262 feet (80 meters) tall. That is as tall as a 20-story building!
At the top of the tower are three long blades. Each blade is about 115 feet (37.5 meters) long. When they spin, the blades cover an area about 250 feet wide. This is almost as wide as the wingspan of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet!
