The Atlantic Provinces

Now that we've discovered some of Atlantic Canada's Literature and Music, we should probably go over some of the basics. What provinces does Atlantic Canada consist of and what is so special about them? Yes, I know this topic can be a little dry, but try to stay with me. Here we go...

Credit to: atlanticportal.hil.unb.ca/en/

Atlantic Canada is made up of the maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and lastly Newfoundland and Labrador. These provinces are usually pictured as vast and green, with lots of coastline and beautiful sunsets. This may be true, however PEI is also known for its production of potatoes, and the other provinces for their fishing and natural resources.

Nova Scotia is located below the other Maritime Provinces, and has the largest city, it’s capital city of Halifax, in Atlantic Canada with a population of roughly 350,000.

Credit to: pmorgan at flickr.com

New Brunswick, to the northwest of Nova Scotia and connected to northern Maine, is coastal all along the eastern side. The capital city is Fredericton and the largest city is St.John, of 69,661 people, also the oldest city in the province. New Brunswick is also the only officially bilingual province of Canada and is home to four universities.

Prince Edward Island, in the following picture, is located above New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, has a population of roughly 138,000 people. The capital city is Charlottetown, one of two cities on PEI. Its main industries are fishing, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. PEI also has two lobster seasons and consists of three counties: Prince, Kings and Queens. The island’s first people, the Mi’kmaq, named the island Epekwitk, which meant resting on the waves.

Credit to: www.gov.pe.ca

And to round it all off, Newfoundland and Labrador are located near northern Quebec and is almost three times the total area of the Maritime Provinces. The capital city, St. John’s, is located in Newfoundland and is home to the Royal St. John’s Regatta, a sporting event holiday that is usually the first Wednesday in August, the only holiday that is weather permitting. About 95% of all the puffins bred in North America are bred in Newfoundland and Labrador coasts, making it practical to be named the provincial bird. L’Anse aux Meadows, as discussed in class, is a Norse site in Newfoundland giving proof to the fact that viking settlement was attempted more than a thousand years ago.

So, yes I know it was slightly dry reading but at least you will all know which area of Atlantic Canada we will be referencing in our postings to come. Maybe if you really enjoyed it, we could add a MUCH more detailed version later on…

References:
1. http://www.trailcanada.com/canada/geography-maritimes-atlantic.asp
2. Map from: http://atlanticportal.hil.unb.ca/en/
3. Government of New Brunswick www.gnb.ca
4. PEI government webpage http://www.gov.pe.ca/

A popular tourist destination in Atlantic Canada is the Bay of Fundy. Famous for the highest tides in the world, the Bay is located on the east coast of Canada between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with part of the bay bordering the US state of Maine. The Bay stretches 280 kilometers or 174 miles and during just one tide cycle, more than 100 billion tons of seawater flows in and out of the Bay.
The Minas Basin, located on Nova Scotia side, is home to the highest tidal ranges on the planet. The Basin is in an inlet of the Bay that has tides that can reach up to 15 meters or 50 feet. According to Bayoffundytourism.com, this is five times higher than the average of typical tides along the Atlantic coast. The Bay of Fundy also experiences horizontal tidal effects, as well as the formation of tidal bores, rapids, and even whirlpools.
Aside from being considered a natural wonder, the Bay of Fundy is also home to a variety of wildlife. Visitors to the area may see sandpipers, Atlantic puffins, seals, and even whales. Whales commonly spotted in this area include the Northern Atlantic, humpback, fin, and mink. One of the area’s First Nations groups, the Mi’kmaq, even have a story that claims a whale is responsible for the formation of the Bay.
The Bay of Fundy is definetly a place to visit for those interested in ecology and wildlife, or just those who love the outdoors. There are many activities and tours to participate in, from kayaking tours to horseback riding to whale watching. For those less active, there are plenty of museums and parks, including the Fundy Aquarium and Fundy National Park.
I recommend that anyone interested further in the Bay of Fundy check out The Bay of Fundy Blog. It is written by a woman who has lived by the Bay her entire life. She shares information about the Bay, including pictures and a look into everyday life there.

Photo taken by dgphilli on Flickr.com

Sources: Bay of Fundy Tourism, Bay of Fundy