Geography of Nova Scotia

A province located in eastern Canada consisting of a mainland peninsula and a highland Cape Breton Island descirbes the Geography of Nova Scotia . New Brunswick (which is bigger) and Prince Edward Island (which is smaller) , with Nova Scotia makes up the Maritime Provinces. Halifax is its provincial capital and largest city and has a population of 937, 000.^[1]. Nova Scotia is one of 10 provinces (and three territories) in Canada. Language of this continent is a billingual (English and French). English is the most spoken language in Nova Scotia.^[2]. Services prove to be in French as well.

It lies east on the country and is almost completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Millions of years ago, Nova Scotia was part of Africa.^[3]. As the earth's crust shift, Africa and North America divided; this left Nova Scotia behind. It's name derives from Latin and means New Scotland.^[3] The Scotts whom first settled there gave it its name. The topography of Nova Scotia is mostly forests and lakes. Larger towns are located off the seacoast.

Nova Scotia consists of the peninsula of Nova Scotia connected to the mainland via a narrow isthmusand Cape Breton Island in the northern part of the province is linked by the world’s deepest causeway that is 1.6km (1 mile) long. The Atlantic batters the eastern shore. The Bay of Fundy divides the southern part of the peninsula from its mainland, with the Gulf of St Lawrence to the north. Northeast is rural and rocky. South and Southwestern areas are fertile. The Fundy's red soil was originall a part of present Africa. On Northeast islands land rises to 540m (1770ft).

Historical Geography

The region was firts inhibited Micmac Indians when John Cabot claimed it in New England in 1497. In 1605, French settlers adopted Micmac name Acadia for the region. English and Scotts dotted this region in 1621. A conflict between France and England for control over of the area ended by the 1713 Peace of Utrecht, and gave reward to England. By mid 18th Century, the British expelled most of the French settlers. When the American Revolution ended, loyalists joined the region. It would join the Dominion of Canada in 1867, as a founding member. Present economy is fishing , shibuilding, and transatlantic shipping.^[1]

Commonly visited histrorical sites include the Alexander Graham Bell Museum which is located at Baddeck, the Shrine of Evangeline at Grand Pré, and the town of Annapolis Royal, site of the first permanent Canadian settlement (Port-Royal in 1610).^[1] Cape Breton Island (est. 1936) and Kejimkujik (est. 1968) national parks are famous in Nova Scotia

Regional Geography

Cape Breton

Cape Breton is notable for its mining industry.^[4]. When explorers and settlers arrived here in the 1500s, and 1600s, the were focused on the coal industry. This was discovered in rocks and cliffs. Coal used to be burned for heat in houses and factories, used by blacksmiths to melt iron and later for train engines to produce steam to run the trains.^[4] Recently, it is not used as often because of pollution so mines are shut down.^[4] In Nova Scotia, some of the electricity comes from burning coal to turn the generators. This is a process still practiced in other parts of the world. Current experiments are being made such as mixing mining coal water to make a cleaning burning fuel. Some mines as of today are used for tourist attractions and retired miners take people on tours of old mines.^[4]

They'd used horses down in the mines to pull the carts loaded with coal. Boys used to work in mines as well and would go in small places. Some mines of cape Breton are right under the water of the ocean. This is imperative because the mine could flood. ^[4]

Central & Northern

Northumberland Strait between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is 320 km long and approximately 14 to 50 km wide in different places. It now has a bridge, stretching from Border PEI to Cape Jourimain that was built in 1997 and is named the Confederation Bridge. Before this establishment, there was a ferry, which Prince Edward Island from Cape Tormentine.^[5].

Beaches are located on the shores of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In addition, water is warm in the summer hince it is not as deep as the ocean so people can swim there. There used to be more fish until fishing a lot for too long a time to kill off most of the species so it is difficult for fishermen.^[5] Lobster is still located in places such as Pictou, Amherst, Colchester and Cumberland Counties.

Some of the rocks in Nova Scotia consist of coal. And ones from Pictou county have had miners digging out coal since in 1758 when a man named Rev Dr. James MacGregor discovered there was coal there. There have been lots of disasters when miners were killed. ^[5] Coal, which used to hve been used to generate appliances, now causes pollution. ^[5] Infact, The Westray mine had an explosion that killed 26 miners May 9, 1992 and was never opened again. ^[5]

What's more gypsum mining is in Central Nova Scotia. Gyp rock or gypsum board help create the walls in the buildings. ^[5] Ground up like powder, mixed with water creates plaster, or the white stuff that is spread on walls or that make casts for broken bones. Crumbled up, its added to clay dirt to make it drain better and grow better crops.

Eastern Shore

As you leave Dartmouth, and travel to Cape Breton there are no larger towns but just smaller places. ^[6].

Places to visit includes the Fisherman's Life Museum in Jeddore Oyster Ponds. Population was more in this area about 100 years ago when fishing and lumbering were significant. ^[6] Sheet Harbor with 900 people is the largest town.

There is fishing for trout and Atlantic salmon serves as sport in rivers amongst the coast. At Eastern Passage there is a Fishermen's Village tourist attraction with few stores. ^[6]

In the Easten Shore of Nova Scotia the forsts grow close to the water. A saw mill was constructed in about 1786. Since then, various were built and made lumber into big companies bought them. In 1971, Scott Paper had a big mill which was destroyed by Hurricane Beth. It would never open again since there was a huge mill in Pictou County.^[6]

South Shore

Lunenburg's population popultion is about 48000 and about 6000 people are Acadian and many others are related to the first German settlers. It is well known for its shipbuilding industry. ^[7]. The notorious Bluenose was founded here. Fishing is important here. For example, Highliner Foods that sells lots of frozen fish in supermarkets is in Lunenburg. It is now getting well known by its tourism.

Mahone Bay has three churches Trinity United , St. John Lutheran , St. James Anglican which have marked its fame. ^[7] Those three churches stand by the head of the harbour for over one hundred years and remain in suitable condition. The word "Mahone" derives from "Mahonne". This in French were private ships that sailed by the shore of the Mahonne Bay.^[7]

Oak Island is also in Mahonne, which is not very big, but is believed to have treasured buried in it.^[7]

Peggy's Cove is famous for its rocks and lighthouses, which serve as a post ofice in the summer. There is a memorial there for the people killed in the Swiss Air crash on September 2, 1998. On the rocks at Peggy's Cove there is also a sculpture made by William E deGarthe. Peggy cove's name derives from a girl, named Margaret who was the sole survivor of a shipwreck. She married there and was nicknamed Peggy.

What is the Economy like?

For Nova Scotia, mining has been historically imperative.^[1] Coal was extracted principally Sydney–Glace Bay area of Cape Breton Island, until mines were closed in 2001. Salt, Barite, and Gypsum are what is mined. This decrease in mining has caused a shift in focus on fishing to Nova Scotia.^[1] Fleet is operated on the continental shift, especially on the Grand Banks, and further out to the sea. Although years of various fishing have laid to setbacks in production.^[1] Now, Lobster, scallops, and haddock are the biggest catches.^[1] As well, offshore deposits of natural gas have began explotation. Inland, forests yiels spruce lumber and the province's industries produce much pulp and paper. ^[1]

In the northwest, there lies dairying, which is the most important sector of Nova Scotia's agricultural economy.^[1] In addition, the region of Annapolis and Cornwallis contains fresh apple orchards. There also is significant grain, hay, fruit, and vegetable crops. The bay lowlands, which were reclaimed by dikes in the 17th cent., are very productive.^[1]

Manufacturing is the largest sector in Nova Scotia's economy.^[1]Iron and steel are produced in Sydney, as well the province's manufactures include food proccessing (especially in fish), automobiles, tires, sugar, and construction materials. Halifax is a railroad terminus, a well as a year-round port. There are both hydroelectric and tidal (which is located at Annapolis Royal) power-generating plants. Coast, countryside, and historical sites are known to attract tourists.^[1]

Nova Scotia's Provincial Berry

Blueberries, which are native, are a famous Nova Scotian fruit. On January 11, 1996, the House of Assembly declared the wild blueberry the Provincial Berry of Nova Scotia. The blueberry mainly grows in northeastern North America. Unlike the cranberry, blueberries are very sweet.^[8]. It grows on a low bush. Wild blueberres grow best on abandoned farmland in the forest. ^[8] In addition, wild blueberries grow well in acid soils that are well-drainland.^[8]

Nova Scotia's Provincial Flower

Forests cover most of the Nova Scotia province.^[9]. In these woodlands, often nearly hidden with fallen leaves, grows a dainty, little plant with a delicate, spicy scent the mayflower. The mayflower is also named trailing arbutus. It is an evergreen oval, shiny, green leaves, and clusters of delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers.^[9] It blooms in the spring in parly shaded areas. The plant grows a mere four inches high and spreads by shallow underground stems. It is a slow spreader because seeds do not form each year.^[9] Its woodlands, barren, and rocky lands provide suitable soil for mayflowers to grow. In cool, acid soil they grow best and are most commonly found. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).. Climates in other areas of the world are also influenced by how near they are to the oceans. Nova Scotia's maritime climate, however is influenced by the cold air masses passsing from the centre of Canada and the warm air masses from the Atlantic Ocean.

Nova Scotia's climate, as well the other climates in the world, is affected by the distance it is located from the Equator and how high above sea level the land is. ^[10]

Winters in Nova Scotia can be cold, harsh, and windy, but are usually relatively mild, especially in the southern regions. Warm air coming from the south usually brings rain while cold air form the north commonly creates snow. ^[10]

Other facts

Location
East coast of Canada.

Time
GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 in summer).
Summer officially lasts from the first Sunday in April to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October.

Area
52,841 sq km (20,402 sq miles).

Population
937,900 (2005 estimate).

Population Density
17.74 per sq km.

Capital
Halifax. Population: 379,800 (2005 estimate). ^[2]

Size: Actually, Nova Scotia is neither the biggest province in Canada (which is Ontario), but nor is it the smallest one either (that is Prince Edward Island). It is 575 kilometers (360 miles) long, and averages about 130 kilometers (80 miles across). Its total area is about 53, 000 square kilometres (25,000 square miles).

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "Nova Scotia at Answers.com". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b "BBA Country Guide". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b "2014 Halifax". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Cape breton Geography". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Central & Northern Geography". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Eastern shore Geography". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Southern shore Geography". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c "A famous Nova Scotian fruit". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c "The mayflower is also called the trailing arbutus". Retrieved 2006-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference bbc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).