Somes Sound facts for kids
Somes Sound is a unique body of water located in Maine, United States. It cuts deep into Mount Desert Island, which is home to much of Acadia National Park. This long, narrow inlet of the sea is very deep, reaching about 175 feet (53 meters) at its deepest point. In many other spots, it's still over 100 feet (30 meters) deep! Somes Sound almost divides Mount Desert Island into two separate pieces.
What is a Fjard?
Somes Sound is often called the "only fjord on the East Coast" of the United States. However, experts now call it a fjard.
So, what's the difference?
- A fjord is a very deep, narrow inlet of the sea, usually with steep cliffs on both sides. They are carved out by glaciers. Famous fjords are found in Norway.
- A fjard is also a long, narrow inlet formed by glaciers, but it's usually smaller and doesn't have the super-steep cliffs or the special kind of deep, oxygen-poor water found in many true fjords. Think of a fjard as a smaller, drowned valley created by ice.
History of the Name
Somes Sound got its name from Abraham Somes. He was one of the very first settlers on Mount Desert Island. Abraham Somes built his home at the very end of the sound, in a place that became known as Somesville. This village was the first one ever established on the island.
Gallery
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Entrance of Somes Sound,
Mount Desert Island, Maine (1855)
by Fitz Hugh Lane -
Stereoscopic image of Valley Cove, Somes Sound. (1870s)
