Prince Edward Island

I

Introduction

Prince Edward Island, the smallest and most densely populated province of Canada. It is one of the Maritime provinces (along with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) and one of the Atlantic provinces (the Maritimes plus Newfoundland and Labrador). Prince Edward Island lies in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and has a crescent shape. It is separated from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by the shallow Northumberland Strait. The provincial capital and largest city is Charlottetown.

Many of the islanders farm the fertile red soils that cover much of the land. Residents raise livestock and grow a variety of crops, especially potatoes—the traditional primary crop. Because of its rich agricultural resources, Prince Edward Island has been nicknamed the Million-Acre Farm, the Garden of the Gulf, and Spud Island. The Mi’kmaq, the island’s original inhabitants, called it Abegweit, meaning “Cradled on the Waves.” It was called Île Saint Jean by the French, and in 1799 its name was changed to Prince Edward Island in honor of a son of British king George III.

II

Physical Geography

Prince Edward Island has an area of 5,660 sq km (2,185 sq mi). Apart from small ponds, there are virtually no inland bodies of fresh water. The province is about 230 km (about 140 mi) long and from 6 to 60 km (4 to 40 mi) wide. The shoreline is deeply indented by tidal inlets. Along the southern and eastern coasts, embayed river mouths offer excellent harbors, such as the harbor at Charlottetown. Few places on the island are further than 8 km (5 mi) from the sea or a tidal inlet. Along the northern coast, an almost continuous line of dunes and sandbars block the harbor entrances.

A

Landforms

Prince Edward Island lies in a portion of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Plain, which is a subdivision of the Appalachian Region, a landform that dominates eastern North America. Structurally, the Gulf of St. Lawrence Plain is a low basin, and most of the island consists of gently rolling plains. Few areas on the island exceed 60 m (200 ft) in elevation. The highest point on the island, in the Bonshaw Hills, rises to 142 m (466 ft) above sea level. The northern side of the island has fine white beaches and is protected from the sea by dunes. The island’s southern side is bordered by low sandstone bluffs, averaging about 6 m (20 ft) high.

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Long ago, Prince Edward Island was buried under a thick glacier, which left a deep mantle of sandy-red glacial debris. The soils that developed on this mantle, known as podzals, are moist, acidic, and comparatively low in plant nutrients. However, over large sections where they have been cared for and where organic material has been added, the soils support many types of agriculture.

B

Climate

Its maritime location gives Prince Edward Island a milder climate than might ordinarily be expected at its northerly latitude. The climate is very humid. In Charlottetown average temperatures range from a high of 23°C (74°F) to a low of 14°C (57°F) in July, the warmest month. In January, the coldest month, temperatures range from a high of -3°C (26°F) to a low of -12°C (10°F). The average annual precipitation is 1,200 mm (47 in), and residents can expect an average of 3.4 m (11 ft) of snow each year. About 150 days each year are free of frost.

In winter ice covers Northumberland Strait and parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and icebreakers must be used to keep sea lanes open. Drift ice can be found in offshore waters as late as the end of May, making maritime travel difficult for the province’s fishers.

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