The province of Nova Scotia is located in the southeastern part of Canada and occupies the peninsula of the same name, which is connected to the mainland by the narrow isthmus of Chignekto, Cape Breton Island located northwest of it and Sable Island located to the south of it. It is one of the three “seaside” provinces of Canada.. From the south it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, from the northwest – by the waters of the Bay of Fundy, from the north – by the waters of the Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The first Europeans who visited these places were the Vikings in the 11th century, then in 1497 the Italian navigator Giovanni Caboto reached the coast of the peninsula. In 1604, French colonists founded the first settlement on the Nova Scotia Peninsula – Port Royal and formed a colony called Acadia. In the middle of the 18th century, these territories came into the possession of England. The Scottish settlers left an indelible mark on the culture of the province. Numerous bands perform Celtic music in Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton Island is one of the international centers of Celtic culture.
Provincial capital – Halifax is located on the south coast of Nova Scotia. Halifax is a large agglomeration with an area of about 5.5 thousand square meters. km, which is allocated to a separate district within the province. The metropolitan area includes the cities of Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville. The Halifax agglomeration is the largest in terms of population, located east of Quebec, it is the main economic center of eastern Canada. The central area of the city, where most of the attractions are concentrated, is Halifax Harbor. It is considered the second largest urban harbor in the world after Sydney. It is bounded to the south by McNabs Island and to the north by the vast Bedford Bay. The Halifax Peninsula, the historical center of the city, juts out into the central part of the harbor. The main dominant of this area is the citadel standing on a high hill.1856. Initially, in the 18th century, there was a fortress built by the British on the city hill. The current citadel was built in the middle of the 19th century and was intended to defend the city from attacks by the US army. It is surrounded by earthen ramparts, has the appearance of a star in plan, inside of which there is a vast courtyard. Every day at noon, cannon volleys sound near the citadel, and performances are periodically held here telling about the life of this part of the city at the end of the 19th century. Today, the halls of the Military Museum are located inside the citadel, where samples of weapons, uniforms and orders are exhibited. A little to the east towards the embankment is City Hall – the place where the municipal government meets. Province House is adjacent to City Hole, which was built in 1819 opposite the embankment. Now the legislative, executive and judicial bodies of the province sit here. Province House is Canada ‘s oldest meeting building. On the waterfront you can see the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the famous Neptune Drama Theatre, the Casino, the area of old buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries, History Properties and the Granville Mall area, which is full of restaurants, pubs and shops. In the southern part of the Halifax peninsula lies the oldest urban park in the country, the Halifax Commons. Nearby is Point Pleasant Park. Also in the southern part of the Halifax peninsula on the coast is the historical site Pier 21, where European immigrants have lived since the beginning of the 20th century. One of the most popular urban parks in Halifax is Sir Sandford Fleming Park, which covers an area of 38 hectares and is located at the southern base of the Halifax Peninsula on the coast of the South Arm of Halifax Harbor.
From the central part of the coast of Halifax harbor in the old city, a bridge was laid to the other side of the harbor, it leads to the city of Dartmouth. Dartmouth is known as the “city of lakes” because there are 23 lakes in its vicinity. On the headwaters of Halifax Harbor are the towns of Bedfordand Sackville.
According to SHOEFRANTICS, West of Halifax, the city of Lünenburg is interesting. Boat excursions are offered from Lunenburg on the world-famous 45-meter schooner Bluenose, an exact copy of the ship on which Canadian navigator Angus Walters traveled in the early 20th century. 200 km west of Halifax on the peninsula of Port Mouton lies the coastal part of the Kejimkujik National Park.. This part of the park has an area of 22 sq. km and is an excellent place for observing birds and marine life, such as seals and turtles. There are about 250 species of birds and many reptiles, including the rare Blanding’s freshwater turtle. 100 km to the north in the center of the peninsula is the main part of the Kejimkujik National Park with an area of 381 square meters. km. The park was founded in 1967. There are lakes and rivers in it, along which canoe tours are arranged. There are also 14 hiking trails in the park.
On the southwestern tip of the Nova Scotia peninsula, on the shores of the Bay of Maine, is the city of Yarmouth.. In the 19th century, it was one of the main centers of shipbuilding on the mainland. Today, Yarmouth is known for its yachts. In Yarmouth, the City Museum is interesting, which was opened in 1935 in the historic center of the city. It houses the third largest collection of maritime-themed paintings in the country. Also in the museum you can see a stone with runic signs. It is believed that the signs were applied in the 11th century by the Viking Leif Eriksson, who became the first European to set foot on these lands. 11 km southwest of Yarmouth is the village of Cape Forchu, where there is an old lighthouse from 1840. In addition, north of Yarmouth is the Church of St. Mary – the largest wooden church in North America.
The northern coast of the Nova Scotia Peninsula is suitable for observing large marine animals, and this can be done not only on sightseeing ships, but also on kayaks. On the shores of the Bay of Fundy, you can go on a tour from the city of Digby, during which you will see whales and a variety of birds. On the shores of the Bay of Fundy lies the historic Annapolis Valley, famous for its wines and apple orchards. In the 17th century, the French began to settle here, who formed the colony of Acadia. You can learn about those times in the park of the French colonists Port-Royal. The atmosphere of the first French settlements of the peninsula is reproduced here, the life and way of life of the peninsula of the early 17th century is presented.
The northeast coast of Nova Scotia, washed by the waters of the Northumberland Strait, is known for its seafood restaurants. Here you can taste a variety of lobster dishes and just have a good time on the numerous beaches. The main city of this part of the province is Amherst. Not far from Amherst, on the Malagash Peninsula , vineyards extend, along which entire wine tours are arranged.
Off the northeast coast of Nova Scotia is Cape Breton Island.. Visitors to the island are offered boat trips to watch birds and marine animals, walking tours to the main centers of Celtic culture, relaxation on lake and sea beaches, as well as unlimited golf opportunities. The main excursion route of Cape Breton Island is the Caboto Trail, which runs along the northern part of the island and closes in a ring. The trail is located on the territory of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and was named after the navigator Giovanni Caboto, because Aspi Bay on the east coast of the island was the first landing point of Giovanni Caboto in the New World. The trail is known for its breathtaking views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic coast. It also passes through the city Baddeck, where the house-museum of Alexander Graham Bell, the world famous scientist who invented the telephone, is located. There are a total of 25 hiking trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, mostly offshoots of the Caboto Trail. In the center of the island of Cape Breton is the largest lake in the province of Bras d’Or. The entire coast of the lake is strewn with beaches and holiday homes. You can get acquainted with the Celtic culture of the island by traveling along the Keili route, which runs along the western coast of the island and has a length of 107 km.
The best beaches in Nova Scotia are located in provincial parks. 19 km east of Dartmouth in Laurenstown Beach Provincial Parkstretches the beach of the same name, which is popular among surfers and windsurfers. The waves here can reach a height of 3.5 m. A little east along the coast is the longest beach in the province – Martinique. In the vicinity of Yarmouth, the most popular beaches are Mavillite Beach Provincial Park, where sand dunes stretch, and the beaches of Five Islands Provincial Park, surrounded by bizarre cliffs. On the coast of the Nutumberland Strait, there are such famous beaches as Pomkiet with sand dunes and Melmerby. Also a great place to relax are the beaches around the Caboto Trail on Cape Breton Island.
