Massachusetts

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State of northeastern USA, a New England state and the sixth smallest state in the nation; bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and southeast, Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; area 20,306 sq km/7,8407,840 sq mi; population (2000) 6,349,100; capital and largest city Boston. It is nicknamed Bay State because of the early settlement on Cape Cod Bay, and Old Colony State due to its historical significance. The state includes part of the Taconic Mountains, the valley of the Housatonic River, the Berkshire Massif, known as the Berkshires, and the northeasternmost section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, including the Cape Cod peninsula. The Massachusetts economy is based on the service industry, and high-tech and electrical industries are also significant. Agricultural products include cranberries, apples, and dairy goods. Towns include Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge, Brockton, New Bedford, Fall River, Lynn, and Quincy. One of the Thirteen Colonies, the state is a region of great significance to US history, being the point of disembarkation for the Mayflower Pilgrims, as well as the site of key conflicts in the American Revolution. Massachusetts entered the Union in 1788 as the 6th of the original 13 states.

The crescent is a symbol of Islam and the green also denotes Islam. The four stars and the four stripes of colour represent the four islands in the group (including Mayotte, which is a French dependency). Effective date: 2002. >>