Maine whose sinking by an explosion on February 15, 1898 precipitated the Spanish–American War. To the south and east is the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and northeast is New Brunswick, a province of Canada. The Canadian province of Quebec is to the northwest. Maine is both the northernmost state in New England and the largest, accounting for almost half the region's entire land area. Maine is the only state to border exactly one other state (New Hampshire to the west). Maine is the easternmost state in the United States in both its extreme points and its geographic center. The
Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes forces hunting Cervera found his squadron there on the evening of 27 May 1898, and a 37-day blockade of the harbor ensued. During the blockade, "Reina Mercedes" traded blows with the American blockaders. On 3 June 1898, the U.S. Navy attempted to trap the Spanish ships in the harbor by sinking the collier in the entrance channel. Spanish shore batteries disabled "Merrimac", and she drifted up the channel toward the anchored Spanish warships; "Reina Mercedes", the armored cruiser , and the destroyer opened fire on "Merrimac" as well, and the collier soon sank in a position which did not block