Coordinates: 45 11 N 67 17 W
Population: 3,447 (2007 est.)
Not to be confused with the much larger, older, and better known French city, Calais, Maine is nonetheless significant for several reasons: a French settlement established in 1604 by Champlain on nearby St. Croix Island was one of the first in North America, and as a point of entry into the United States, it’s the eight busiest northern border crossing. More recently, Calais was designated one of two terminus points (the other being Key West, Florida) for the nation’s first long distance urban trail system. Begun in 1991, the East Coast Greenway will eventually link 25 cities and 15 states via a traffic-free corridor meant for hikers, bikers, skaters, and skiers. Those who can cover more than 3,000 miles using muscle power alone will end up in a town with an economy that has long been sustained by its proximity to plentiful natural resources, such as timber, or blueberries.
Ben Keene is the editor of Oxford Atlas of the World. Check out some of his previous places of the week.
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