Some
of the most important natural resources in the New England region are found
in and along the Atlantic Ocean. Commercial
fishing is an important industry. Many people in this region earn their
living fishing. Important fish in this region are menhaden, herring,
cod and haddock. These fish are used for food all over the world. Maine
is famous for lobsters.
Many people consider eating
lobster a real treat.
The
forests of New England are an important natural resource for the New England
region. Timber was the
first raw material for New England industry. The shipbuilding industry
began in this region. The early colonist used the tall, straight white
pines of the New England region to make the masts of sailing ships. Now,
timber is used for wood pulp. It is the raw material used to make
paper. Another product from trees in the New England region is maple
syrup. It is made from the sap of certain maple trees. Sugaring
is an important industry in Vermont.
The
New England region has the largest stone quarries in the United States.
There are many stone quarries
in Vermont. The most important stones found in Vermont are granite,
marble, and slate.
Granite is a very hard stone that lasts for a long time. It is used for
buildings, statues, and tombstones. Vermont leads the U.S. in marble quarrying.
Marble is mostly found in the Green Mountains. Marble is used for walls
and floors of public building and on monuments. Slate is another building
stone. It is used to make long-lasting roof shingles for expensive buildings.
It is also used to make chalkboards.
Water
is an important natural resource in the New England region. The lakes and
rivers are used for transportation and power. Most of the early industries
including timber were located along rivers. The water
was used to create power. Mills were all over the New England region. Then,
water power was used to create electric power. These water uses helped
build New England's successful manufacturing industry. Today,
Connecticut's
manufacturing industry
continues to be very successful.
