WELCOME TO NOVA SCOTIA
Written by Wendy Williams (a.k.a. Mom)
Source: www.canadianencyclopedia.ca
Nova Scotia is one of the Maritime Provinces and Canada’s second smallest province. English King James 1 named the new territory New Scotland. Halifax is the capitol and the largest urban centre. Nova Scotia’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean means its economy is influenced by the ocean. The harbours have served as military bases during war times. Between the Atlantic Upland and Southern
Upland lie the fertile valleys of the Annapolis and Cornwallis rivers.
The Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream can combine to create cold windy springs and summer sea fog. The coastal areas are milder and wetter than the rest of the province. Average winter temperatures are 0 C—15* C and summer temperatures tend to be 20 C-25 C*.
The foundation of the province is Paleozoic granite rock cut through with deep drainage channels. Besides streams and small rivers, there are over 3000 lakes. Two large lakes are Bras D’Or and Rossignol. Early transportation used the Sackville and Shubenacadie rivers.
Although once covered by forest, little virgin forest remains today. The acidic soil supports the growth of conifers but some hardwoods remain and provide a display of coloured leaves in autumn. The Forest Protection Headquarters in Shubenacadie practices conservation. Commercial hardwoods are: red maple, sugar maple and yellow birch. Common softwoods are spruce and balsam fir (used for pulpwood).
Mosses, lichen, ferns and scrub heath are common. A profusion of wildflowers thrive: mayflower, pitcher plant, ragwort, water lily and many varieties of violets. Herbaceous plants such as cranberries, blueberries and goldenrod are found throughout the province.
Pennsylvania rocks yield coal deposits. Other industrial minerals are: gypsum, limestone, sandstone, salt and barites. Coal mines declined with the arrival of petroleum and natural gas. However, in the 1990’s coal (strip mining) made a come-back.
About 29% of the land is suitable for agriculture, the most fertile being along the Bay of Fundy and Northumberland Strait. Marshland (created by the Bay of Fundy) has been controlled through dykes and used as valuable agricultural lands. Fisheries are supported by water management and restocking through the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act to provide protection for salmon and trout fisheries. Lobster and shellfish are an important export.
The original people to inhabit Nova Scotia were the Mi’Kmaq who belonged to the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Mi’kmaq people are traced back 10,000 years. They were hunters, traders and skilled salt water fishermen. They established better trade relations with the French than the English. Other settlers who moved to Nova Scotia were: French, English, Scottish, German, former loyalists (following the American Revolution) and African-American slaves.
Norse adventurers may have reached Nova Scotia before John Cabot in 1497. The first European settlement was the French colony of Acadia. Acadia was handed back and forth between the French and English throughout the 17th century. The British military feared the settlement would side with the French. Beginning in 1755, British forces expelled more than 6000 Acadians to various American colonies.
The Halifax Explosion and the end of WW I, resulted in a recession. During the Second World War, Halifax became a major port for military purposes. The economy of the province has fluctuated over the years.
Scottish culture hosts a festival called Gaelic Mod which showcases Scottish folk art. Annual Highland Games called the Antigonish Highland Games are an annual summer celebration. The Centre for Craft and Design provides learning and display. Music and drama attractions are: Symphony Nova Scotia, the Neptune Theatre and the Mermaid Theatre.
East coast music is celebrated with numerous musicians performing throughout the province. Noted musicians are: Rita McNeill, the Rankins, Ashley MacIsaac, Ivan Hicks and the rock band, Sloan.
Visitors to Nova Scotia should plan their itinerary to include amazing heritage sites such as Uniake House, Perkins’s House and the Clifton Home. National historic parks offer a restored Louisburg, a replica of Champlain’s habitation, Port Royal and the Halifax Citadel. Tour the fascinating Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
Source: www.canadianencyclopedia.ca
Nova Scotia is one of the Maritime Provinces and Canada’s second smallest province. English King James 1 named the new territory New Scotland. Halifax is the capitol and the largest urban centre. Nova Scotia’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean means its economy is influenced by the ocean. The harbours have served as military bases during war times. Between the Atlantic Upland and Southern
Upland lie the fertile valleys of the Annapolis and Cornwallis rivers.
The Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream can combine to create cold windy springs and summer sea fog. The coastal areas are milder and wetter than the rest of the province. Average winter temperatures are 0 C—15* C and summer temperatures tend to be 20 C-25 C*.
The foundation of the province is Paleozoic granite rock cut through with deep drainage channels. Besides streams and small rivers, there are over 3000 lakes. Two large lakes are Bras D’Or and Rossignol. Early transportation used the Sackville and Shubenacadie rivers.
Although once covered by forest, little virgin forest remains today. The acidic soil supports the growth of conifers but some hardwoods remain and provide a display of coloured leaves in autumn. The Forest Protection Headquarters in Shubenacadie practices conservation. Commercial hardwoods are: red maple, sugar maple and yellow birch. Common softwoods are spruce and balsam fir (used for pulpwood).
Mosses, lichen, ferns and scrub heath are common. A profusion of wildflowers thrive: mayflower, pitcher plant, ragwort, water lily and many varieties of violets. Herbaceous plants such as cranberries, blueberries and goldenrod are found throughout the province.
Pennsylvania rocks yield coal deposits. Other industrial minerals are: gypsum, limestone, sandstone, salt and barites. Coal mines declined with the arrival of petroleum and natural gas. However, in the 1990’s coal (strip mining) made a come-back.
About 29% of the land is suitable for agriculture, the most fertile being along the Bay of Fundy and Northumberland Strait. Marshland (created by the Bay of Fundy) has been controlled through dykes and used as valuable agricultural lands. Fisheries are supported by water management and restocking through the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act to provide protection for salmon and trout fisheries. Lobster and shellfish are an important export.
The original people to inhabit Nova Scotia were the Mi’Kmaq who belonged to the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Mi’kmaq people are traced back 10,000 years. They were hunters, traders and skilled salt water fishermen. They established better trade relations with the French than the English. Other settlers who moved to Nova Scotia were: French, English, Scottish, German, former loyalists (following the American Revolution) and African-American slaves.
Norse adventurers may have reached Nova Scotia before John Cabot in 1497. The first European settlement was the French colony of Acadia. Acadia was handed back and forth between the French and English throughout the 17th century. The British military feared the settlement would side with the French. Beginning in 1755, British forces expelled more than 6000 Acadians to various American colonies.
The Halifax Explosion and the end of WW I, resulted in a recession. During the Second World War, Halifax became a major port for military purposes. The economy of the province has fluctuated over the years.
Scottish culture hosts a festival called Gaelic Mod which showcases Scottish folk art. Annual Highland Games called the Antigonish Highland Games are an annual summer celebration. The Centre for Craft and Design provides learning and display. Music and drama attractions are: Symphony Nova Scotia, the Neptune Theatre and the Mermaid Theatre.
East coast music is celebrated with numerous musicians performing throughout the province. Noted musicians are: Rita McNeill, the Rankins, Ashley MacIsaac, Ivan Hicks and the rock band, Sloan.
Visitors to Nova Scotia should plan their itinerary to include amazing heritage sites such as Uniake House, Perkins’s House and the Clifton Home. National historic parks offer a restored Louisburg, a replica of Champlain’s habitation, Port Royal and the Halifax Citadel. Tour the fascinating Canadian province of Nova Scotia.