Where is the St. John Valley?
It is located in Aroostook County in northern Maine and is bordered by Canada to the east, west, and north.

How large is Aroostook County?
"The County,” as it is known throughout Maine, comprises a land area of 6,672 square miles and is the largest county east of the Mississippi. It is larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. The St. John Valley is roughly 60 miles east to west by 30 miles north to south. 

What is the best time of year to visit the St. John Valley?
Each season offers something different. Annual festivals occur from late June to early September. Camping, canoeing, fishing, and hunting are popular from spring to fall.  Fall is a good time to view mother nature’s spectacular color display while driving or biking through the countryside. Winter offers a variety of winter sports such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and ice skating. Check with local chambers of commerce for more information.

What is the weather like in the St. John Valley? 
Summers are cool with abundant rainfall, about 27 inches annually. Winters are snowy and cold, but the low humidity makes the cold more bearable. Annual snowfall is about 100 inches. The first freeze in Caribou is usually around September 22 and the last freeze near May 18.  

What is the primary industry in the St. John Valley? 
Farming. Potatoes, broccoli, pea, sugar beets, and grains are the primary crops grown in the St. John Valley. The rolling farmlands in the St. John Valley produce more than 40 million bushels of potatoes each year. The countryside is blanketed with white potato blossoms in July.

What cultures are represented in the St. John Valley?
Northern Maine is home to people of diverse cultural backgrounds. Native American tribes include the Micmacs and the Maliseets. French-speaking Acadians and people of Swedish decent also live in the St. John Valley.

Are there volunteer opportunities available related to any of the Maine Acadian Culture sites or programs? 
For volunteer opportunities, please contact us at:

Maine Acadian Heritage Council
344 East Main Street
Madawaska, ME 04756
(207) 728-6826

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c/o Acadia National Park
P.O. Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-3338

What are ship knees?
The term "knee" refers to a section of a tree where the trunk meets the root. The wood in this section of a tree is called "tension wood" because it grows against the stresses of nature's elements. Because of their great strength, knees are widely used for bracing and structural elements in ships and boats as well as homes, barns, timber frames, and furniture. Examples of ship knees can be found in the Morneault house at the Acadian Village in Van Buren, Maine.