Massachusetts

==Geography==

{{Main|Geography of Massachusetts|Geology of New England}}
[[File:East_South_East_View,_Mt_Sugarloaf,_South_Deerfield_MA.jpg|thumb|A portion of the north-central [[Pioneer Valley]] in [[South Deerfield, Massachusetts|South Deerfield]]]]

Massachusetts is the [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|seventh-smallest state in the United States]]. It is located in the [[New England]] region of the [[Northeastern United States]]. It has an area of {{convert|10555|sqmi|km2}}, 25.7% of which is water. Several large bays distinctly shape its coast. Boston is the largest city, at the inmost point of [[Massachusetts Bay]], and the mouth of the [[Charles River]].{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Despite its small size, Massachusetts features numerous [[topography|topographically]] distinctive regions. The large [[coastal plain]] of the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern section of the state contains [[Greater Boston]], along with most of the state's population,<ref name=GreaterBoston /> as well as the distinctive [[Cape Cod]] [[peninsula]]. To the west lies the hilly, rural region of [[Central Massachusetts]], and beyond that, the [[Connecticut River|Connecticut River Valley]]. Along the western border of [[Western Massachusetts]] lies the highest elevated part of the state, [[the Berkshires]], forming a portion of the northern terminus of the [[Appalachian Mountains]].{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The U.S. [[National Park Service]] administers a number of natural and historical [[List of areas in the National Park System in Massachusetts|sites in Massachusetts]].<ref name=NPS1>{{cite web |title=Massachusetts |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |access-date=May 26, 2010 |url=http://www.nps.gov/state/MA/}}</ref> Along with twelve national historic sites, areas, and corridors, the National Park Service also manages the [[Cape Cod National Seashore]] and the [[Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area]].<ref name=NPS1/> In addition, the [[Department of Conservation and Recreation]] maintains a number of [[List of Massachusetts state parks|parks]], trails, and beaches throughout Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission |url=http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/inside-our-agency/mission/ |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts |access-date=April 22, 2015 |archive-date=April 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422101501/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/inside-our-agency/mission/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Ecology===
The primary [[biome]] of inland Massachusetts is [[temperate deciduous forest]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ricklefs |first1=Robert |title=The Economy of Nature |date=December 17, 2008 |publisher=W. H. Freeman |isbn=978-0716786979 |page=96 |edition=6th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nqFLjZLwKxIC&pg=PA96 |access-date=April 22, 2015}}</ref>
Although much of Massachusetts had been cleared for agriculture, leaving only traces of [[old-growth forest]] in isolated pockets, secondary growth has regenerated in many rural areas as farms have been abandoned.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stocker |first=Carol |title=Old growth, grand specimens drive big-tree hunters |url=http://www.boston.com/yourlife/home/articles/2005/11/17/old_growth_grand_specimens_drive_big_tree_hunters/ |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 17, 2005 |access-date=October 17, 2009}}</ref> Forests cover around 62% of Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Current Research—Working Landscapes |publisher=The Center for Rural Massachusetts—The [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] |access-date=March 19, 2009 |url=http://www.umass.edu/ruralmass/currentresearch.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226064502/http://umass.edu/ruralmass/currentresearch.html |archive-date=February 26, 2009 }}</ref> The areas most affected by human development include the Greater Boston area in the east and the Springfield metropolitan area in the west, although the latter includes agricultural areas throughout the Connecticut River Valley.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northeastern Coastal Zone—Ecoregion Description |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |access-date=October 17, 2009 |url=http://landcovertrends.usgs.gov/east/eco59Report.html}}</ref> There are 219 [[endangered species]] in Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |title=MESA List Overview |url=http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/species-information-and-conservation/mesa-list/ |publisher=Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs |access-date=April 22, 2015 |archive-date=April 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423090320/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/species-information-and-conservation/mesa-list/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A number of species are doing well in the increasingly urbanized Massachusetts. [[Peregrine falcon]]s utilize office towers in larger cities as nesting areas,<ref>{{cite web |title=Peregrine Falcon |url=http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/nhesp/species-and-conservation/nhfacts/falco-peregrinus.pdf |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife |access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref> and the population of [[coyote]]s, whose diet may include garbage and roadkill, has been increasing in recent decades.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eastern Coyote |url=http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/fish-wildlife-plants/mammals/eastern-coyote-in-massachusetts.html |publisher=[[Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs]] |access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref> [[White-tailed deer]], [[raccoon]]s, [[wild turkey]]s, and [[eastern gray squirrel]]s are also found throughout Massachusetts. In more rural areas in the western part of Massachusetts, larger mammals such as [[moose]] and [[American black bear|black bears]] have returned, largely due to [[reforestation]] following the regional decline in agriculture.<ref>{{cite news |title=Forests lure moose to Massachusetts |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0214/p13s02-sten.html |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |access-date=April 22, 2015}}</ref>

Massachusetts is located along the [[Atlantic Flyway]], a major route for migratory [[waterfowl]] along the eastern coast.<ref>{{cite news |title=Atlantic Flyway |newspaper=Audubon |date=November 13, 2014 |url=http://www.audubon.org/atlantic-flyway |publisher=National Audubon Society |access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref> Lakes in central Massachusetts provide habitat for many species of fish and waterfowl, but some species such as the [[common loon]] are becoming rare.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chasing loons: Banding the elusive birds at night on the Quabbin Reservoir |date=July 28, 2014 |url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/chasing_loons_banding_the_elus.html |publisher=masslive.com |access-date=April 23, 2015}}</ref> A significant population of [[long-tailed duck]]s winter off [[Nantucket]]. Small offshore islands and beaches are home to [[roseate tern]]s and are important breeding areas for the locally threatened [[piping plover]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Coastal Waterbird Program |publisher=Mass Audubon |access-date=May 28, 2010 |url=http://www.massaudubon.org/cwp/}}</ref> Protected areas such as the [[Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge]] provide critical breeding habitat for shorebirds and a variety of marine wildlife including a large population of [[grey seal]]s. Since 2009, there has been a significant increase in the number of [[Great white shark]]s spotted and tagged in the coastal waters off of [[Cape Cod]].<ref>{{cite web |title=It was a record-breaking year for shark research off Cape Cod |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=March 30, 2020 |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2019/11/18/review-2019-great-white-shark-season-cape-cod}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sharks have multiplied off Cape Cod beaches, devouring gray seals and putting swimmers on edge |work=USA Today |access-date=March 30, 2020 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/20/sharks-cape-cod-beach-seals-ocean-new-england/1953956001/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Map: Where great white sharks roam off Cape Cod |publisher=capecodtimes.com |access-date=March 30, 2020 |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/great-white-sharks-map |archive-date=June 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629014700/https://www.capecodtimes.com/great-white-sharks-map |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Freshwater fish species in Massachusetts include [[Bass (fish)|bass]], [[Common carp|carp]], [[catfish]], and [[trout]], while saltwater species such as [[Atlantic cod]], [[haddock]], and [[American lobster]] populate offshore waters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commonly Caught Species |url=http://www.eregulations.com/massachusetts/fishing/saltwater/commonly-caught-species/ |website=eregulations.com |publisher=The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries |access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref> Other marine species include [[Harbor seal]]s, the endangered [[North Atlantic right whale]]s, as well as [[humpback whale]]s, [[fin whale]]s, [[minke whale]]s, and [[Atlantic white-sided dolphin]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mammals in Massachusetts {{!}} Mass.gov |url=https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mammals-in-massachusetts |website=www.mass.gov |access-date=December 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

The [[European corn borer]], a significant agricultural pest, was first found in North America near Boston, Massachusetts in 1917.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Details—A progress report on the investigations of the European corn borer—Biodiversity Heritage Library|last1=Caffrey|first1=D. J.|last2=Worthley|first2=L. H.|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.108390|year = 1927|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/108390}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{main|Climate of Massachusetts}}Most of Massachusetts has a [[humid continental climate]], with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to [[Humid Subtropical]] climates. The warm to hot summers render the [[oceanic climate]] rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of [[Barnstable County, Massachusetts|Barnstable County]]. The climate of [[Boston]] is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around {{convert|81|F|C}} and winter highs of {{convert|35|F|C}}, and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Boston has a relatively sunny climate for a coastal city at its latitude, averaging over 2,600 hours of sunshine a year.
[[File:Köppen Climate Types Massachusetts.png|thumb|Koppen climate types of [[Climate of Massachusetts|Massachusetts]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"
|+Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Massachusetts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=MA&statename=Massachusetts-United-States-of-America |title=Massachusetts climate averages |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=November 20, 2015}}</ref>
|-
!Location
!July (°F)
!July (°C)
!January (°F)
!January (°C)
|-
|[[Boston]] || 81/65 || 27/18 || 36/22 || 2/−5
|-
|[[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]] || 79/61 || 26/16 || 31/17 || 0/−8
|-
|[[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] || 84/62 || 27/17 || 34/17 || 1/−8
|-
|[[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]] || 80/65 || 26/18 || 37/23 || 3/−4
|-
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]] || 80/61 || 26/16 || 33/18 || 1/−7
|-
|[[Plymouth, Massachusetts|Plymouth]] || 80/61 || 27/16 || 38/20 || 3/−6
|}