Lesson 22:
Natural Resources and Economy
of the New England Region
Before you start reading, you will find it helpful to
LLB=Lesson 15
. The most important natural
resource of this region is its people. The economy is much more geared to service jobs than goods
jobs.Thenorthernstatesof theNewEnglandRegion (Vermont,NewHampshire, andMaine) relymore
heavily upon the primary and secondary industries. For example, the largest land area of this region
is Maine. Maine is known for its huge forests. Trees are greatly useful for building houses, cabinets,
and floors.Paper products and cardboard can bemade from trees.This area also iswell known for its
maplesyrup.Most of thesoil in this region ispoor.However, somesoil isgoodenough tosupport small
farms.Maine is known for its potatoes.
Five of the six states have borders on the Atlantic Coast.The fishing industry is important, espe-
cially in harvesting cod, herring, and lobsters from the ocean.The chief minerals of the area are gran-
ite andmarble.These are hard stones used in building homes and offices.
While the southern states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island have primary and
secondary industries, they are better known for jobs in the service sector. For example, Hartford,
Connecticut, is known as an insurance center. Selling insurance is a service job.Moving trade items
in and out of the ports of NewEngland provides service jobs.Publishing books inBoston is a second-
ary (manufacturing) industry. Selling andmoving books are service jobs.
Becauseof its historic past, and its beautiful landforms andwaterforms, theNewEnglandRegion
attracts thousands of tourists every year. Tourism is grouped in the service sector (tertiary). Tourists
areattracted to theAppalachianMountains, theAtlanticCoast, and thehistoric cities of NewEngland.
ACTIVITY 1:
Use the information above and at least two other sources, such as the Internet and an encyclopedia,
towrite in products obtained from the natural resources of theNewEnglandRegion.
MAINNATURAL RESOURCES CHARTOF NEW ENGLAND
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PENNSVALLEY
New England Region
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Farming (soil)
Forests (soil)
Fishing (water)
Mining
(under the ground)
ACTIVITY 2:
Following thedirections inActivity1, identify themain service jobsat whichpeoplework in this region.
