In the maple family, the harder tree species are called "hard maple" rather than "soft maple". Maple trees are widely distributed in North America, mainly in eastern Canada and the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States. It is famous for producing maple syrup. The heartwood is light reddish brown, and the sapwood is white mixed with light pink. Maple wood is heavy, hard, and has strong impact resistance. Maple wood is commonly used for sports floors, bowling lanes, and snowboards.