Introduction
Maryland (abbr.: MD or Md), state of the United States of America, bordered by Pennsylvania, Delaware, the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia and West Virginia, 27,394 km2, with 4.8 million inhabitants; Capital: Annapolis.
Physical Geography
The state extends a great distance west from the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the coastal plain (Atlantic Plain) is separated into two parts by the deep inland pressing Chesapeake Bay: the Eastern Shore (the east coast, which is low and flat) and the Western Shore (the west coast), as well as the east coast strongly articulated, but hillier and higher. The western part of the state belongs to the Appalachians (Allegheny Mountains). The highest point is Backbone Mountain (1024 m) in Garrett County. The main rivers are the Potomac, which runs along the western border of the state, and the Susquehanna, which traverses the northeast corner of the state. In the south and east, the climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, in the west by the mountains. An average of 102 cm of precipitation falls per year.
Population
The average population density is 149 inhabitants. per km2. About 81% of the population lives in urban areas. The largest city is Baltimore, one of the largest cities in the United States. See top cities in Maryland.
Economy
Maryland has a very diverse economy. The most important is industry (food, metal goods, transport vehicles, machinery, electrical appliances chemicals, printing and publishing). After industry, commerce (centered in Baltimore), tourism (centered on Chesapeake Bay), agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and the public sector are important (numerous government agencies are located in Maryland due to its proximity to Washington, including the National Security Agency and the Atomic Energy Commission). The main agricultural products are poultry, dairy, greenhouse vegetables, fruit (melons), grains, maize, soybeans and tobacco. The fishery mainly consists of oysters and other mussels and crabs. The mining industry includes extraction of coal, sand and gravel.
Sights
The state’s natural beauty includes the nature reserves and beaches of the Eastern Shore and the Allegheny Mountains in the far west. Historic sites include the Antietam and Monocacy Battlefields, the setting for important battles during the American Civil War.
Catoctin Mountain Park
Catoctin Mountain Park Recreation Area is located about 20 miles east of Hagerstown, Maryland. The area is ideal for hiking, cycling and family outings. Here you will find marked trails of various lengths and levels of difficulty, from easy walks to rough hikes. Here you can choose from more than 25 miles of hiking trails.
Catoctin Mountain is part of the Appalachian Mountains and its ridges are covered with forest cover. Catoctin Mountain Park is located in the mountainous region known as the Blue Ridge Province and numerous streams flow through this mountain park. At the same time, the park provides panoramic views of the Monocacy Valley. Thanks to the road that crosses the park, it is accessible to the public all year round, but some parts of it are closed during the winter.
In this area you will find many campsites where it is possible to stay, at the same time there is also a visitor center available for tourists. There they have the opportunity to purchase the necessary maps, pick up brochures and leaflets with information about the park. In addition to the unique untouched nature, the park also offers captivating rock formations, cultural exhibits, and with a bit of luck you may spot deer, squirrels or woodpeckers.
When visiting the park, you should follow certain safety rules, such as walking only on marked trails. You should not go on trips alone, always be in a group, or at least in pairs. Remember that all animals and plants in the park are protected by law. When meeting an animal, avoid it, if threatened, they can be aggressive. Equip yourself with good hiking shoes and plenty of drinking water for your trips. Report each of your trips to the rangers so that they can come to your aid in the event of an accident or danger.
History
In 1524, the coast of Maryland was discovered by Verrazano. In 1632, King Charles I of England gave a charter to George Calvert, Baron Baltimore, who named the colony after Queen Henriette Maria. Calvert’s son Cecil started the colonization. The colony was primarily intended as a refuge for persecuted Catholics, but other denominations were also admitted. After the Revolution of 1689, Maryland became a Crown Colony, but the Calvert family rights were restored in 1715. Maryland became the 7th state member of the United States with the adoption of the Constitution in 1788. In the American Civil War, the state was deeply divided, but a majority remained loyal to the North.
