Nova Scotia  

~ The Ocean's Playground ~ 
Autumn  
   
                                          

Canada's Eastern Atlantic Province of Nova Scotia is a haven for wildlife. Where cliffs, forests and ocean collide, each view is more spectacular than the last. Less than 1 million people share the province's 53.000km square. Nova Scotia's unspoilt landscape is three quarters forested, with some 3000 lakes and 7500 km of rocky coastline, and supports a fascinating diversity of fauna and flora , including a wealth of species now lost from similar temperate ecosystems in Europe.



Map of Nova Scotia
    
   

The Ocean has been a very important factor in Nova Scotia's history. The first visitors were Norsemen in the early 11th century, and in 1497, Italian explorer John Cabot noted the rich fishing grounds in the province and spurred the first wave of settlement. Despite the recent decline in fishstocks on the Great Banks, the commercial fishing industry is still diverse and widespread, involving approximately 3300 boats and 5500 fishermen. Lobster and clams are local delicacies

 

The Bay of Fundy between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is a world-renowned location to witness whales breaching in the highest tides in the world. Humpback, northern right, minke, and finback whales (depending on season) can often be observed feeding on the rich plankton of the Bay, along with dolphins, harbour seals and grey seals, and whale watching tours are generally very rewarding.

From the top of 600-foot (200m) cliffs the tide can be seen to rise and fall by over 40 feet (13m) to expose over 100,000 acres of red ocean floor.

 
 
       
 

The lagunes and long white sand beaches of the Southshore are ideal for bird-watching. Coastal salt-marshes offer the opportunity to study the unique flora including insectivorous plants and orchids unique to the province.

     
                             
                 
                                         
                 
           
 

Nova Scotia has a rich cultural history. First settled by the Mi'qmaqs, the first white settlers were French, English and German, but many Norwegian stayed after the World Wars.

Many festivals are celebrated by the different cultures. Halloween offers the chance to see some truly ingenious decorations.

 
  The Capital, Halifax, is a vibrant university city, blending modern life with Nova Scotia's history. The elegant 18 th - and 19 th Century architecture is mixed in with modern towers of glass in steel, and the Citadel (a colonial fort) bears witness to the province's Scottish roots.                         Bagpipes            
                     
                           
                                 
 
The heart of Halifax is perfect for exploring on foot, with tree-lined streets, seaside boardwalks, restaurants, galleries and museums; the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (with many artifacts from the Titanic) on the city wharf and the Citadel are highly recommended.
                   
                                             
                                                                 
                         
    Peggy's Cove is an idyllic fishing village and one of the most popular stops in Atlantic Canada. Set on rocky granite shores the lighthouse and village at Peggy's Cove are a photographer's paradise.          
                         
                                                               
                      Lunenburg County is the Christmas tree capital of the world. Originally settled by Germans in 1753 as a British Colonial Settlement, Lunenburg is now a UNESCO World Heritage Sight, and well worth a few hours of exploration.                              
     
The red Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (left) has a large exhibition about Nova Scotia's fishing past, including whaling, as well as aquariums and a boat-building yard. Rebuilds of the famous racing schooner ‘Bluenose' and the ‘Mayflower' can be explored in the harbour.