The National Parks of Nova Scotia

The Cabot Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
The Cabot Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Nova Scotia is a Canadian maritime province situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The province has an area of 55,284 square km, a population of 923,598, and Halifax is the provincial capital. Nova Scotia's territory includes a mainland area, known as the Nova Scotia peninsula, as well as numerous islands. It is the country’s second smallest province, and no point in Nova Scotia is more than 67 km away from the Atlantic Ocean. Nova Scotia is home to two national parks and a national park reserve, which are listed below.

3. Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Established in 1936, Cape Breton Highlands National Park is located on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island. The park occupies an area of 949 square km, and is famous for its enchanting and varied landscapes that feature the Atlantic Ocean, tall cliffs, deep canyons, mountains, and forests. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is a popular recreational area that includes several salt-water beaches, two freshwater beaches, an 18-hole golf course, and hiking trails. Many species of wildlife live in the national park, including mammals like the black bear, lynx, beaver, red fox, moose, and raccoon, numerous birds species like the bald eagle, hawk, and kestrel, as well as several species of reptiles. Many rivers run through the park, and marine life in the offshore waters include species of whales, dolphins, seals, and more.

2. Kejimkujik National Park

Kejimkujik National Park is made up of two properties in Nova Scotia. The main property is located in the Nova Scotia peninsula, near the border between Annapolis County and Queens County, and features forests on an upland plain. The second property, named the Kejimkujik Seaside unit, is located on the Atlantic coast and features beaches and wetland habitats. The park has a combined total area of 404 square km, which includes several bodies of water. Kejimkujik National Park is also Canada's only national park that is completely contained within a National Historic Site. Camping, canoeing, hiking, and wildlife watching are some of the activities that can be enjoyed by visitors to Kejimkujik National Park. The park is home to several types of birds, like barred owls, woodpeckers, and loons, as well as mammals, such as porcupines, moose, and white-tailed deer.

1. Sable Island National Park Reserve

Sable Island National Park Reserve is a national park reserve located in Nova Scotia. The area is protected against oil and natural gas drilling, and is known for its feral breed of Sable island horses. The reserve was established in June 2013 and may be designated as a national park in the near future. The reserve lacks tall trees and instead is covered by low-growing vegetation like marram grass. Over 550 feral Sable Island ponies roam here and are protected from human interference. The shores of the island serve as a breeding area for gray and harbor seals, and the reserve is also home to large bird colonies.

Share

More in Environment