Somes Sound

Somes Sound cuts five miles into the middle of Mount Desert Island, deep and steep-sided, and it is often described as the only fjord on the eastern seaboard — geologists prefer "fjard," but the shape and the depth are real enough.

Boating on the sound is really boating out of Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor at its mouth, where the moorings, fuel and yards are. Both are serious working harbours with real service capacity, and both are busy through the Acadia season.

Water is deep close to shore for most of its length, which makes for dramatic passages and very few anchoring options. Most visiting boats take a mooring.