Editing Connecticut (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Connecticut}}

{{Further|Geography of New England}}
Connecticut is bordered on the south by [[Long Island Sound]], on the west by [[New York (state)|New York]], on the north by [[Massachusetts]], and on the east by [[Rhode Island]]. The state capital and fourth largest city is [[Hartford]], and other major cities and towns (by population) include [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]], [[New Haven]], [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]], [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]], [[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain]], [[Greenwich, Connecticut|Greenwich]], and [[Bristol, Connecticut|Bristol]]. There are 169 [[New England town|incorporated towns]] in Connecticut, with cities and villages included within some towns.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013|title=List of Connecticut Towns & Counties Including Year Established|url=https://ctstatelibrary.org/cttowns/counties|url-status=live|access-date=November 1, 2021|website=CT State Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105055255/http://ctstatelibrary.org:80/cttowns/counties |archive-date=November 5, 2015 }}</ref>
[[File:Map of Connecticut NA cropped.png|upright=1.25|thumb|Reference Map showing major highways and settlements]]

The highest peak in Connecticut is [[Bear Mountain (Connecticut)|Bear Mountain]] in [[Salisbury, Connecticut|Salisbury]] in the northwest corner of the state. The highest point is just east of where Connecticut, [[Massachusetts]], and New York meet (42°3′ N, 73°29′ W), on the southern slope of [[Mount Frissell]], whose peak lies nearby in Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite peakbagger |pid=7083 |name=Mount Frissell-South Slope, Connecticut/Massachusetts |url-status=dead |url=https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7083 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014192329/https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7083 |archive-date= Oct 14, 2023 }}</ref> At the opposite extreme, many of the coastal towns have areas that are less than {{convert|20|ft|m}} above sea level.

Connecticut has a long maritime history and a reputation based on that history—yet the state has no direct oceanfront (technically speaking). The coast of Connecticut sits on [[Long Island Sound]], which is an [[estuary]]. The state's access to the open Atlantic Ocean is both to the west (toward New York City) and to the east (toward the "race" near Rhode Island). Due to this unique geography, Long Island Sound and the Connecticut shoreline are relatively protected from high waves from storms.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Press Release: Scientists Find Block Island Sound Protected from Great Storms|url=http://www.columbia.edu/cu/pr/95/18699.html|access-date=November 1, 2021|website=Columbia University }}</ref>

The [[Connecticut River]] cuts through the center of the state, flowing into Long Island Sound. The most populous metropolitan region centered within the state lies in the [[Connecticut River Valley]]. Despite Connecticut's relatively small size, it features wide regional variations in its landscape; for example, in the northwestern [[Litchfield Hills]], it features rolling mountains and horse farms, whereas in areas to the east of New Haven along the coast, the landscape features coastal [[marsh]]es, [[beach]]es, and large scale maritime activities.

Connecticut's rural areas and small towns in the northeast and northwest corners of the state contrast sharply with its industrial cities such as Stamford, Bridgeport, and New Haven, located along the coastal highways from the New York border to New London, then northward up the Connecticut River to Hartford. Many towns in northeastern and northwestern Connecticut center around a [[Village green|green]]. Near the green typically stand historical visual symbols of [[New England]] towns, such as a white [[church (building)|church]], a [[colonial meeting house]], a colonial [[tavern]] or [[inn]], several [[American colonial architecture|colonial houses]], and so on, establishing a scenic historical appearance maintained for both [[historic preservation]] and tourism. Many of the areas in southern and coastal Connecticut have been built up and rebuilt over the years, and look less visually like traditional New England.

The northern boundary of the state with Massachusetts is marked by the Southwick Jog or Granby Notch, an approximately {{convert|2.5|mile|km}} square detour into Connecticut. The origin of this anomaly is clearly established in a long line of disputes and temporary agreements which were finally concluded in 1804, when southern [[Southwick, Massachusetts|Southwick's]] residents sought to leave Massachusetts, and the town was split in half.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southwickma.org/Public_Documents/SouthwickMA_WebDocs/southwick_jog.pdf |title=The Southwick Jog |last=Dodge |first=Edward R. |website=Town of Southwick, Massachusetts |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929023040/http://www.southwickma.org/Public_Documents/F000102F9/S00476B50-00476B5B.0/The%20Southwick%20Jog.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cslib.org/jog.htm |title=Connecticut's Southwick Jog |publisher=Connecticut State Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024224307/http://www.cslib.org/jog.htm |archive-date=October 24, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The southwestern border of Connecticut where it abuts New York State is marked by a [[Salient (geography)|panhandle]] in [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County]] and the [[Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Western Connecticut Planning Region]], containing the towns of [[Greenwich, Connecticut|Greenwich]], [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[New Canaan, Connecticut|New Canaan]], [[Darien, Connecticut|Darien]], and parts of [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]] and [[Wilton, Connecticut|Wilton]]. This irregularity in the boundary is the result of [[History of Connecticut#Territorial disputes|territorial disputes]] in the late 17th century, culminating with New York giving up its claim to the area, whose residents considered themselves part of Connecticut, in exchange for an equivalent area extending northwards from [[Ridgefield, Connecticut|Ridgefield]] to the Massachusetts border, as well as undisputed claim to [[Rye (town), New York|Rye, New York]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cslib.org/panhandle.htm |title=Connecticut's "Panhandle" |website=Connecticut State Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314055555/http://www.cslib.org/panhandle.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Areas maintained by the [[National Park Service]] include [[Appalachian National Scenic Trail]], [[Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor]], and [[Weir Farm National Historic Site]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Connecticut |website=National Park Service |access-date=July 15, 2008 |url=http://www.nps.gov/state/ct/index.htm |archive-date=August 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821175246/http://www.nps.gov/state/ct/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{further|Climate change in Connecticut}}
[[File:Köppen Climate Types Connecticut.png|left|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of Connecticut, using 1991–2020 [[Climatological normal|climate normals]].]]
Connecticut lies at the rough transition zone between the southern end of the [[humid continental climate]], and the northern portion of the [[humid subtropical climate]]. Northern Connecticut generally experiences a climate with hot, humid summers and moderataely cold winters with periodic snowfall. Far southern and coastal Connecticut has a climate with cool winters with a mix of rain and infrequent snow, and the long hot and humid summers typical of the middle and lower [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]].

==== Precipitation ====
Connecticut sees a fairly even precipitation pattern with rainfall/snowfall spread throughout the 12 months.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=OVERVIEW OF CLIMATE IN CONNECTICUT|url=http://www.canr.uconn.edu/nrme/cscc/CTweatherstationintroduction/CONNCTICUTINTRODUCTION.HTM|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=www.canr.uconn.edu|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023193136/http://www.canr.uconn.edu/nrme/cscc/CTweatherstationintroduction/CONNCTICUTINTRODUCTION.HTM|url-status=dead}}</ref> Connecticut averages 56% of possible sunshine (higher than the U.S. national average), averaging 2,400 hours of [[sunshine]] annually.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://maps.howstuffworks.com/united-states-annual-sunshine-map.htm |title=United States Annual Sunshine Map |website=HowStuffWorks |access-date=March 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110429042722/http://maps.howstuffworks.com/united-states-annual-sunshine-map.htm |archive-date=April 29, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Occasionally, some months may see extremes in precipitation, either much higher or lower than normal, though long term droughts and floods are rare.<ref name=":2" />

Early spring can range from slightly cool (40s to low 50s F) to warm (65 to 70 F), while mid and late spring (late April/May) is warm. By late May, the building [[Bermuda High]] creates a southerly flow of warm and humid tropical air, bringing hot weather conditions throughout the state. Average highs are {{convert|81|F|C}} in New London and {{convert|85|F|C}} in Windsor Locks at the peak of summer in late July. On occasion, heat waves with highs from 90 to {{convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on}} occur across Connecticut. Connecticut's record high temperature is {{convert|106|F|C}} which occurred in [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]] on July 15, 1995.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=All-Time Climate Extremes for CT|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/scec/getextreme.php?elem=ALL&state=CT|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102070821/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/scec/getextreme.php?elem=ALL&state=CT|archive-date=November 2, 2011|access-date=March 18, 2011|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |website=U.S. State Climate Extremes Committee }}</ref> Although summers are sunny in Connecticut, quick moving summer thunderstorms can bring brief downpours with thunder and lightning. Occasionally these thunderstorms can be severe, and the state usually averages one tornado per year.<ref name="tornadoes">{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif|title=Annual average number of tornadoes, 1953-2004 |publisher=NOAA National Climatic Data Center|format=[[GIF]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030012752/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif|archive-date=October 30, 2008|access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref> During hurricane season, the remains of tropical cyclones occasionally affect the region, though a direct hit is rare. Some notable hurricanes to impact the state include the [[1938 New England hurricane]], [[Hurricane Carol]] in 1954, [[Hurricane Sandy]] in 2012, and [[Hurricane Isaias]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|title=NWS Boston – The Great Hurricane of 1938|url=https://www.weather.gov/box/1938hurricane|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=National Weather Service |language=EN-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hurricanes|url=https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Communications/Hurricanes/Hurricanes|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=Connecticut Department of Public Health |publisher=CT.gov |language=en}}</ref>

Weather commonly associated with the fall season typically begins in October and lasts to the first days of December. Daily high temperatures in October and November range from the 50s to 60s F. Winters (December through mid-March) are moderately generally cold from south to north in Connecticut. The coldest month (January) has average high temperatures ranging from {{convert|38|F|C}} in the coastal lowlands to {{convert|33|F|C}} in the inland and northern portions on the state. The lowest temperature recorded in Connecticut is {{convert|-32|F|C}} which has been observed twice: in [[Falls Village, Connecticut|Falls Village]] on February 16, 1943, and in [[Coventry, Connecticut|Coventry]] on January 22, 1961.<ref name=":3" /> The average yearly snowfall ranges from about {{convert|60|in|mm}} in the higher elevations of the northern portion of the state to only {{convert|20-25|in|mm}} along the southeast coast of Connecticut (Branford to Groton). Most of Connecticut has less than 60 days of snow cover, while coastal areas often only see 30 days or so of snowcover. Annually, 95% of seasonal snowfall in Connecticut falls from early December to late March. On occasion in winter, Connecticut can occasionally get heavy snowstorms, called [[nor'easter]]s, which may produce as much as two feet of snow on rare occasions.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press |first1=Lidia |last1=Ryan |first2=Frank |last2=Juliano |date=December 16, 2020|title=A look back at historic snow storms in Connecticut|url=https://www.ctpost.com/news/slideshow/A-look-back-at-historic-snow-storms-in-Connecticut-214396.php|url-status=live|access-date=November 1, 2021|website=Connecticut Post|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217022008/https://www.ctpost.com/news/slideshow/A-look-back-at-historic-snow-storms-in-Connecticut-214396.php |archive-date=December 17, 2020 }}</ref> Although rare, [[Ice storm]]s also occur on occasion, such as the [[Southern New England ice storm of 1973]]. 
{| class="wikitable"
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;background:#E8EAFA;" |Monthly normal high and low temperatures for various Connecticut cities (°F)
|-
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000; height:17px;" | City
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Jan
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Feb
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Mar
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Apr
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | May
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Jun
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Jul
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Aug
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Sep
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Oct
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Nov
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;" | Dec
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000; height:16px;" | Bridgeport
| style="text-align:center; background:#0ff; color:#000;" | 38/24
| style="text-align:center; background:#0fe; color:#000;" | 40/25
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ffae; color:#000;" | 47/32
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ff5e; color:#000;" | 58/41
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f1; color:#000;" | 68/51
| style="text-align:center; background:#4f0; color:#000;" | 77/61
| style="text-align:center; background:#7f0; color:#000;" | 83/67
| style="text-align:center; background:#6eff00; color:#000;" | 81/67
| style="text-align:center; background:#3f0; color:#000;" | 75/59
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ff2f; color:#000;" | 64/48
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ff7b; color:#000;" | 53/38
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ffd4; color:#000;" | 43/30
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000; height:16px;" | Hartford
| style="text-align:center; background:#00d9ff; color:#000;" | 35/18
| style="text-align:center; background:#00f7ff; color:#000;" | 38/20
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ffc3; color:#000;" | 47/28
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ff62; color:#000;" | 60/38
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ff08; color:#000;" | 71/48
| style="text-align:center; background:#4f0; color:#000;" | 79/57
| style="text-align:center; background:#73ff00; color:#000;" | 85/63
| style="text-align:center; background:#62ff00; color:#000;" | 83/61
| style="text-align:center; background:#1aff00; color:#000;" | 75/53
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ff48; color:#000;" | 63/42
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f9; color:#000;" | 51/33
| style="text-align:center; background:#00fff7; color:#000;" | 40/24
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;background:#E8EAFA;" |<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/06604 |title=Monthly Averages for Bridgeport, CT |publisher=[[The Weather Channel]] |access-date=September 15, 2011 |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120181654/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/06604 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/06604 |title=Monthly Averages for Hartford, CT |publisher=[[The Weather Channel]] |access-date=September 15, 2011 |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120181654/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/06604 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

===Flora===

{{Main|Flora of Connecticut}}

{{See also|List of Connecticut tree species}}

Forests consist of a mix of [[Northeastern coastal forests]] of oak in southern areas of the state, to the upland [[New England-Acadian forests]] in the northwestern parts of the state. Mountain Laurel (''[[Kalmia latifolia]]'') is the state flower and is native to low ridges in several parts of Connecticut. Rosebay rhododendron (''[[Rhododendron maximum]]'') is also native to eastern uplands of Connecticut and [[Pachaug State Forest]] is home to the Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail. Atlantic white cedar (''[[Chamaecyparis thyoides]]''), is found in wetlands in the southern parts of the state. Connecticut has one native cactus (''[[Opuntia humifusa]]''), found in sandy coastal areas and low hillsides. Several types of beach grasses and wildflowers are also native to Connecticut.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=David M. |last2=Dinerstein |first2=Eric |last3=Wikramanayake |first3=Eric D. |display-authors=etal |title=Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth |journal=[[BioScience]] |year=2001 |volume=51 |issue=11 |pages=933–938 |doi= 10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:teotwa]2.0.co;2|issn=0006-3568|doi-access=free }}</ref> Connecticut spans [[USDA Plant Hardiness Zones]] 5b to 7a. Coastal Connecticut is the broad transition zone where more southern and subtropical plants are cultivated.

===Fauna===
{{Main|Fauna of Connecticut}}

=== Largest cities and towns ===
{{Largest cities
| country = Connecticut
| stat_ref = <ref name="census1">{{cite web|url=https://www.connecticut-demographics.com/cities_by_population|title=Cities by Population|access-date=January 6, 2022}}</ref>
| list_by_pop =
| div_name =
| div_link = Councils of governments in Connecticut{{!}}Region
| city_1 = Bridgeport, Connecticut{{!}}Bridgeport
| div_1 = Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Greater Bridgeport
| pop_1 = 148,654
| img_1 = Bridgeport Center 2.jpg
| city_2 = Stamford, Connecticut{{!}}Stamford
| div_2 = Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Western
| pop_2 = 135,470
| img_2 = Stamford Connecticut Skyline Aug 2017.jpg
| city_3 = New Haven, Connecticut{{!}}New Haven
| div_3 = South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}South Central
| pop_3 = 134,023
| img_3 = New Haven 2020.png
| city_4 = Hartford, Connecticut{{!}}Hartford
| div_4 = Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Capitol
| pop_4 = 121,054
| img_4 = Hartford Skyline from Great River Park (Cropped).jpg
| city_5 = Waterbury, Connecticut{{!}}Waterbury
| div_5 = Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Naugatuck Valley
| pop_5 = 114,403
| img_5 =
| city_6 = Norwalk, Connecticut{{!}}Norwalk
| div_6 = Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Western
| pop_6 = 91,184
| img_6 =
| city_7 = Danbury, Connecticut{{!}}Danbury
| div_7 = Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Western
| pop_7 = 86,518
| img_7 =
| city_8 = New Britain, Connecticut{{!}}New Britain
| div_8 = Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Capitol
| pop_8 = 74,135
| img_8 =
| city_9 = West Hartford, Connecticut{{!}}West Hartford
| div_9 = Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Capitol
| pop_9 = 64,083
| img_9 =
| city_10 = Greenwich, Connecticut{{!}}Greenwich
| div_10 = Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut{{!}}Western
| pop_10 = 63,518
| img_10 =
}}