About Nova Scotia
Nova
Scotia is Canada’s easternmost mainland province. Almost completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, its
53,000 square kilometers (20,463 square miles) make it about twice the size of
Massachusetts or Belgium, and about the same size as Israel or El Salvador. Its capital city, Halifax,
is located approximately halfway between the equator and the North Pole and is on the same
latitude as Bordeaux, France. The newest project of L'Arche in Canada, L'Arche
Halifax, is located here.
Nova Scotia is well known for its scenic beauty,
for its music and culture, and for its maritime life. Its national parks, hiking trails, lakes, and wildlife sanctuaries
provide lots to see and do in every season. With 7,459 km (4,625 mi)
of coastline, the province also has many beaches. In the summer, the ocean water in the Northumberland Strait Area
(northwestern shore of the province) averages 22°
Celsius (72° Fahrenheit). The
average air temperature in July/August is also 22° Celsius.
There are many popular, sandy beaches along the Northumberland Strait, most of which are an easy drive from L'Arche
Antigonish. L'Arche Antigonish is located in the small university town of Antigonish, Nova
Scotia, home to St. Francis Xavier University,
one of the most respected undergraduate universities in the country.
Following is a short list of just a few of Nova Scotia’s more notable
places and features:
- Bay of Fundy – Famous for its tides, which are highest in the world at 16.6 metres (54ft). The twice daily tidal change in the Bay of Fundy is equal to the daily
discharge of all the world's rivers combined! L’Arche Homefires is
located in the town of Wolfville, which is situated on the Bay of Fundy.
- Cape Breton – Located one hour east of Antigonish, Cape Breton is
renowned for its beauty and Gaelic culture. Alexander Graham
Bell, the inventor of the telephone, once said: "I
have traveled around the globe; seen the Canadian Rockies, the American Rockies,
the Andes and the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland; but for simple beauty,
Cape Breton outrivals them all." L’Arche
Cape Breton is located 32 km (20 mi) west of Baddeck, where Alexander Graham
Bell once lived.
- Grand
Pré - Site of the church and cemetery of the 17th -18th century
Acadian village
that became the scenic setting for Longfellow's narrative poem
Evangeline.
- Louisbourg - Famous for its National Historic Site, the “Fortress
of Louisbourg.” Built by the
French in 1713 and destroyed by the British in 1760-61, this Fortress was the
largest ever built overseas by the French and is now totally restored.
- Lunenburg – Famous as the home of the Bluenose, one of the greatest sailing ships ever
built, Lunenburg is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Peggy’s Cove - The “most photographed location in Canada”, this small, picturesque
fishing village has for many years provided safe haven for boats in need of
shelter during rough Atlantic storms.
-
And, of course, no description of
Nova Scotia would be complete without mentioning lobsters.
For more information, visit the
following website:
http://novascotia.com/en/home/default.aspx |
