II.

Physical Geography

Nova Scotia is the second smallest Canadian province (only Prince Edward Island is smaller). Nova Scotia is about 560 km (about 350 mi) long, averages 110 km (70 mi) in width, and has an area of 55,284 sq km (21,345 sq mi), including 1,946 sq km (751 sq mi) of inland water. No part of the province is more than 80 km (50 mi) from the sea.

A.

Natural Regions

The Maritime provinces are part of the Appalachian Region, a geographic zone that extends over much of eastern North America. More than half the area of Nova Scotia lies within the Atlantic Upland, a large upland plateau that gradually rises from the Atlantic coast. The Atlantic Upland stretches from the southern tip of the peninsula to Cape Breton Island in the northeast. Underlain by granites, quartzites, and some slates, the upland consists of five main sections that are separated by lowlands. The most important lowlands are in the southwest, along Minas Basin and the Bay of Fundy, and in the north, along Northumberland Strait. Thick glaciers covered the entire province during the last ice age, and in many areas the hills were stripped of their soil as the glaciers retreated. In other areas, the action of glaciers produced numerous bogs and lakes.

The highest elevations in Nova Scotia are found in the Northern Highlands, areas of uplands that reach across northern parts of the province. The highest point, 532 m (1,745 ft) above sea level, is found in Cape Breton Highlands National Park near the extreme northeastern end of the island. However, the average elevation of the uplands is less than 300 m (1,000 ft), with occasional rounded knobs rising above the general level. In the north central region are the Cobequid Mountains, which rise to slightly more than 300 m (1,000 ft) and extend about 140 km (about 90 mi) from east to west. Further to the west a steep ridge, called North Mountain, separates the Annapolis Valley from the Bay of Fundy.

The largest and most important lowland in Nova Scotia is the fertile Annapolis Valley, which is drained by the Annapolis and Cornwallis rivers. The valley is about 130 km (about 80 mi) long and varies in width from 5 to 15 km (3 to 10 mi). The valley consists mainly of red sandstones and shales. The valley’s tidal marshes were the first lands cultivated by European settlers in Canada, and some of the original dikes built to control tidal flooding survive to the present day.

East of the Annapolis Valley and extending southward toward the interior of the peninsula is another lowland that contains shales and sandstones. Most of the southern half of Cape Breton Island is a region of lowlands underlain by sandstones, limestones, and coal. Bordering Northumberland Strait are the Northumberland coastal lowlands, which are generally marshy and much cooler than the Annapolis Valley. These lowlands are underlain by old sedimentary rocks that give the soil a red color in some places. Many of the sediments contain coal.

B.

Coastline

Nova Scotia’s rugged Atlantic coast in the south is deeply indented with many coves and harbors, and numerous small islands dot the shoreline. It is a good example of a drowned coastline, the land having been depressed by the weight of the ice during the last glacial period. Halifax and Lunenburg, centers of the fishing industry, are located on deep inlets on the coast. In the west the shores are swept by the Bay of Fundy, which records among the highest tides in the world. The difference between high tide and low tide may be as much as 18 m (60 ft).

C.

Rivers and Lakes

Nova Scotia has hundreds of rivers and small streams and several thousand lakes. Most rivers are narrow and short, generally less than 80 km (50 mi) long. All have their origins in the Atlantic Upland. The Annapolis, Sissiboo, and Shubenacadie rivers flow into the Bay of Fundy. Among other rivers, the Mersey drains Lake Rossignol, and the Saint Mary’s flows into the Atlantic Ocean east of Halifax.

Located on the western side of Cape Breton Island, Lake Ainslie is the largest natural freshwater lake in Nova Scotia. Even larger is Bras d’Or, a saltwater tidal lake linked to the Atlantic Ocean that covers nearly one-fourth of Cape Breton Island. Extensive bogs are found throughout the province.

D.

Climate

Although Nova Scotia is almost entirely surrounded by water, its location on the eastern side of the continental landmass results in a climate that is distinctly continental, rather than maritime. The weather systems that influence the climate of Nova Scotia generally originate over the mainland. Halifax, for example, has average January temperatures that range from a high of 0°C (32°F) to a low of -9°C (16°F). Moist Atlantic air often brings mild weather in winter and cooling squalls in summer.

Nova Scotia receives an average of more than 1,140 mm (45 in) of rain annually, with the Atlantic shore receiving 1,400 mm (55 in) or more. Most of the province receives about 1,900 mm (about 70 in) of snow, and considerable winter precipitation comes in the form of rain or ice storms. The average temperature in January, the coldest month, is generally about -4°C (about 25°F) near the coast and somewhat colder toward the interior. The average temperature in July, the hottest month, is about 18°C (about 65°F) in the interior and about 16°C (about 60°F) near the shore. Thick fog from the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Fundy is common during the early summer months.

E.

Soils

The soils of Nova Scotia are generally thin and stony as a result of glacial erosion. The mature soils are all podzols, which are soils that form in moist climates and have a high content of aluminum and iron compounds. They are also highly acidic and relatively infertile. There are exceptions, as in the Annapolis Valley, in the marshlands of the Bay of Fundy, and along Northumberland Strait. The most fertile soils are found in the river valleys.

F.

Plant Life

The forests of Nova Scotia are extensive and commercially valuable. About three-fourths of the province’s land area is forested. In northern areas, sugar maple, yellow birch, beech, red maple, black ash, and white ash are common. In the south, black spruce, red spruce, tamarack (American larch), hemlock, white pine, and fir are widespread. The northern half of Cape Breton Island is an extension of the great coniferous forest of northern Canada, where white spruce and balsam fir are the dominant species.

Nova Scotia is noted for its profusion of wildflowers, including the mayflower, wild rose, and several species of violet. In bogs and shallow water are found the pitcher plant and white water lily. Bracken, wintergreens, and shrubs abound, as do many kinds of berries, including blueberries and cranberries. A variety of marsh grasses thrive in low-lying areas along the Bay of Fundy.

G.

Animal Life

The wildlife of the province consists principally of small animals such as fox, muskrat, mink, otter, groundhog, weasel, skunk, and porcupine. White-tailed deer are among the most common large animals. Other large animals include black bear, moose, and wildcat. Seals, whales, and porpoises live in offshore waters, as do many kinds of fish and shellfish, including cod, halibut, flounder, herring, mackerel, lobsters, clams, and scallops. The province’s plentiful birdlife includes the partridge, duck, grouse, pheasant, heron, plover, loon, and woodcock. Eagles, hawks, owls, kingfishers, and several species of woodpecker are also common. Salmon and trout are found in streams and lakes.

H.

Environmental Issues

One of the most serious environmental issues facing Nova Scotia is acid rain, a form of air pollution that is harmful to many types of plant and aquatic life throughout the Maritime provinces. A principal component of acid rain is sulfur dioxide, which is emitted by local coal-burning power plants. Prevailing winds also bring sulfur emissions from the northeastern United States. Domestic production of sulfur dioxide has dropped considerably since the early 1980s due to more advanced pollution prevention technology at power plants, and acid rain has declined since that time. However, many scientists believe that acid rain still poses a threat to Nova Scotia’s environment, and they advocate further emission reductions to protect the long-term health of vulnerable areas.

Another environmental concern in the province is water pollution, which results mainly from untreated domestic sewage, discharges from industry (including pulp and steel mills), and highway deicing salts. Untreated sewage is routinely pumped directly into the sea, degrading near-shore habitat and the associated fisheries, including those of Halifax and Sydney harbors. In 2002 the federal and provincial governments pledged funds to begin building three sewage-treatment plants in Halifax to help the city clean up its harbor. Water pollution has also contaminated groundwater in some areas and affected the water quality in wells from the Annapolis Valley to Cape Breton Island.

Nova Scotia’s department of natural resources manages efforts to conserve and protect forests, mineral resources, and wildlife habitat. Much of the department’s work is focused on reforestation and forest management. Hunting and the inland salmon and trout fisheries are closely regulated in the province. In addition, Nova Scotia is widely considered a leader in recycling in Canada. A deposit-refund system ensures that nearly all beverage containers are recycled, and most households and businesses have access to a curbside recycling program.