Just where is Manchester, anyway? For that matter, where is New Hampshire? These are logical questions which many visitors to this web site may ask.
The map shown below indicates where New Hampshire is positioned in the United States. It is in the northeastern part of the country, and is one of six states comprising the region known as New England. The other New England states are Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
New Hampshire is a small state, but nevertheless it has 7 regions which have very different characteristics. The names of these regions, and their approximate geographical boundaries, are shown in the map below. In the fall, unbelievably beautiful foliage may be found in all of the regions. but each region also has certain unique features which hold great appeal for environmentalists.
The Great North Woods region is sometimes simply called "The North Country". It lies to the north of the White Mountains, is sparsely populated, and does not draw as many tourists as the other regions of the state. Large tracts of forested land are found here, as well as the third largest lake in the state, Lake Umbagog, and the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge.
The White Mountains of New Hampshire have exceptional natural beauty. Much of this area has been designated as the White Mountains National Forest, and is therefore under federal protection. Mount Washington (elevation 6288') is found in this region. A climb to its summit is well worth the effort, since the climber will be rewarded with spectacular views of the other mountains in the "Presidential Range".
The best known feature of the Lakes Region is Lake Winnepesaukee, the largest lake in the state. Squam Lake, the second largest lake in New Hampshire, is also found in this region, as are the Ossipee Mountains and Sandwich Range. The region lends itself well to day hikes and climbs that fall in the "easy to moderate" category.
Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Lake Sunapee, a medium-size lake near the base of Mount Sunapee, are the namesakes for the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region of the state. Lake Tarleton and several other small lakes are also located in this region, in an area where development is almost non-existent. The Lake Tarleton area, soon to achieve federal protection, will then become an extension of the southern part of the White Mountains National Forest.
The Monadnock region of New Hampshire derives its name from Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey. One of the most-climbed mountains in the world, it is the property of the Society For The Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Many of the small towns in this section of New Hampshire are known for their "picture postcard" or "Currier and Ives" appearances. Peterborough, a town in the Monadnock region, is considered to be the locale described in Thornton Wilder's famous play, "Our Town".
Manchester is located in the Merrimack Valley region of New Hampshire. The Merrimack River Watershed, 180 miles in length, originates in the White Mountains. The river, which has numerous tributaries, flows through Manchester and 213 other communities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts before it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. A decade or so ago, the river was badly polluted, but at present it is widely used for recreational purposes, and in some cases even serves as a source of drinking water.
The Seacoast region of the state is its smallest region, and New Hampshire's coastline is only about 20 miles in length. The coastline features both rocky and sandy areas, as well as estuaries, and each type of habitat is home to a variety of species of marine life.
* maps adapted from those prepared by the NH Office of Travel and Tourism Development
PERTINENT LINKS
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Road Map of New Hampshire (type in information) |
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