 Presque Isle is a city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,511 at the 2000 census. The city is home to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Northern Maine Community College and the Northern Maine Regional Airport.
Presque Isle was the take off point for the Double Eagle II, piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman. It became the first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it landed 17 August 1978 in Miserey near Paris, 137 hours after leaving Maine. In January of 2006, Presque Isle was host to the International Biathlon, in which dozens of countries were represented by their teams. Many of these athletes went on to participate in the Winter Olympics a month later. |
