The Fore River Sanctuary is an 85 acres (34.4 ha) protected area in Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...

. Located in the Stroudwater neighborhood, the sanctuary is home of Jewell Falls, Portland's only natural waterfall and the former home of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal

Cumberland and Oxford Canal

The Cumberland and Oxford Canal was opened in 1832 to connect the largest lakes of southern Maine with the seaport of Portland, Maine. The canal followed the Presumpscot River from Sebago Lake through the towns of Standish, Windham, Gorham, and Westbrook. The Canal diverged from the river at...

. It also includes a salt water marsh which attracts a number of different species of birds and small mammals. It is named after the nearby Fore River

Fore River (Maine)

The Fore River is a short horn-shaped estuary, approximately long, separating Portland and South Portland in Maine in the United States. Many of the port facilities of the Portland harbor are along the estuary, which is formed just southwest of Portland by the confluence of several creeks...

 and was protected by the National Audubon Society

National Audubon Society

The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...

prior to being given to Portland Trails. The land was donated to Portland Trails by Tom Jewell, one of the founders of the organization.

External links

• Jewell Falls - Portland Trails WGME.com, June 22, 2009