The
Atlantic Northeast is a region of
North America, comprising
New England in the United States and the
Maritimes in Canada. Definitions of the region vary; in New England it may be restricted to the rural north, and it may also extend to all of
Atlantic Canada.
The region is noted for a cultural unity, a stark climate and landscape of dense forests, and a shared economic history in the exploitation of
logging and the regional
fishery. Further uniting this area is the "Gray Zone" which is an area of land and sea which is claimed by both Canada and the United States. It is located off the coasts of
New Brunswick and
Maine. The only land within this area are two islands,
Machias Seal Island and
North Rock. The "Gray Zone" one of
four areas between the two countries whose sovereignty is still in dispute, but is the only one of the disputed areas containing land. In 1979, both countries filed a joint application to the
International Court of Justice to avoid having the dispute settled when oceanic boundaries in the area were set for mineral and fishing rights. Canadians have had a continuous presence in the area since 1832 when a lighthouse was built.
Though cross-border connections are widely acknowledged, the area has rarely been given a single name; "Atlantic Northeast" is a term that has been used most prominently in discussions of regional
folk culture.
The
Atlantica initiative is a proposal for greater economic integration of the region.
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